Workplace tragedies in Kazakhstan: 934 injured, 133 dead this year

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan has released data on the number of Kazakhstanis who died or sustained injuries in workplace accidents during 2023.

According to the Committee of State Labour Inspection under the Ministry of Labour, cited by Kazakh media, as of October 1, 2025, a total of 934 workers were affected by workplace accidents, including 133 fatalities.

Notably, the rate of workplace injuries decreased by 3.4% this year.

The regions with the highest number of affected workers and employees are as follows:

• Karaganda Region – 103 people,
• East Kazakhstan Region – 89 people,
• Pavlodar Region – 68 people,
• Aktobe Region – 64 people,
• Atyrau Region – 48 people,
• Almaty – 51 people.

By economic sector, the mining and metallurgical complex accounted for the largest share of affected workers at 17.4%, followed by the construction industry at 10.2%.

The primary causes of these accidents, based on official statistics, include:

• Unsatisfactory organisation of work processes (34.2%),
• Gross negligence by the affected worker (33.6%),
• Violations of safety and labour protection rules (8.5%),
• Violations of road traffic rules (7.8%).

In response to labour protection violations, state labour inspectors have forwarded 730 investigation materials on workplace accidents to law enforcement agencies, resulting in the initiation of 211 criminal cases.

By Tamilla Hasanova