Life, health, and safety of industrial workers in bangladesh: should they be driven by economic rationale or moral imperative?

Recent disasters caused by human negligence have gained widespread global attention. The devastating Savar building collapse in Bangladesh in April 2013 has been described as the deadliest industrial accident and worst structural failure in modern human history after 9/11, highlighting the need for significant policy changes to improve the health, safety, and human rights of workers to prevent similar events in Bangladesh and other nations. This letter to the editor highlights various lessons learned from recent tragedies and discusses potential steps that should be taken to reduce the risk of future disasters and improve the health and safety of industrial workers in the low- and middle-income countries. We provide four primary recommendations for consideration by industries and government agencies worldwide to better ensure the health and safety of industrial workers.