Workplace accidents in the EU see a slight decrease, yet still maintain elevated figures
Revised Article:
Here's a breakdown of the recent trends in workplace accident statistics across EU countries:
📊 Overall Decline in Accidents
Over five years, the number of non-fatal accidents has witnessed a 4.6% decrease. From 2017 to 2022, there were approximately 2.97 million non-fatal accidents, involving absences of 4 days or more, with a decline of 143,031 cases.
🗺️ Sectoral Insights
Production, human health and social work activities, and construction sectors accounted for the majority of accidents in 2022. Although most sectors experienced a decrease in accidents compared to 2017, exceptions include human health and social work activities, education, and construction.
🔍 Injury Severity
Accidents resulting in 7-13 days of absence from work were the most common type in 2022, accounting for 27.4% of the total.
🇮🇹 Italy's Scene
Italy's workplace accident data mirrors the European trend. According to INail data, work-related accidents decreased (-1.9%) in 2024, while those in transit (+5.0%) increased. The overall reduction was minimal, with a decrease of 0.7%.
Among sectors, accidents decreased in manufacturing (-4.7%), healthcare and social assistance (-11.7%), while they increased in construction (+2.8%), commerce (+3.9%), accommodation and food services (+2.8%), transport and warehousing (+2.5%), and education (due to extended protection for teachers).
🔍 Enrichment Data
Generally, sectors with high physical demands or hazardous conditions may have higher accident rates, such as construction and manufacturing. Conversely, sectors with lower physical hazards may witness fewer accidents, like services. Common types of accidents include physical strains, slip, trip, and fall accidents, and machine-related accidents. To obtain specific data on sectoral trends and common types of accidents, consulting Eurostat or national labor statistics is recommended.
- The decline in work-related accidents in the European Union has led to increased focus on workplace wellness and health-and-wellness initiatives, aiming to prevent general-news incidents like accidents across various sectors.
- While the sciences continue to evolve and advance our understanding of workplace safety, it is crucial that organizations in sectors such as construction, despite the higher accident rates, prioritizeworkplace-wellness programs to mitigate the risks associated with physical demands and hazardous conditions.
- As crime-and-justice agencies investigate workplace accidents to identify their causes and potential legal consequences, findings may shed light on best practices for enhancing safety in specific sectors, thereby reducing accident rates and improving overall general-news safety statistics.
