Final answer:
The claim that industrialization leads to fewer job-related accidents and illnesses is false. Industrialization often means more hazardous working conditions, and developing countries still face a high burden of both traditional and modern health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the number of job-related accidents and illnesses is decreasing because of fast industrialization is false. Industrialization has contributed to numerous hazards in the workplace. Factory work has historically been repetitive, straining, and dangerous. Workers faced risks from machinery, exposure to harmful chemicals, and working in buildings without adequate fire codes. Workplace injuries were a common consequence of resorting to dangerous practices in an attempt to maximize profits. The ILO's note that more than half the world's labor force is located in Asia and the Pacific is significant because these regions often have lower salaries and less protected workers' rights, which can contribute to higher rates of workplace accidents and illnesses.
Advances in technology have introduced new hazards, especially in industrialized countries. However, developing countries face a "double burden" of traditional and modern risks to health, leading to a higher overall disease burden from environmental risks. Moreover, workplace violence continues to be a significant contributor to injuries and fatalities, with murder being the second leading cause of death in the workplace and nearly two million workers facing physical assault or threats annually. In conclusion, the notion that industrialization leads to a decrease in job-related accidents and illnesses is not supported by the available data.