Accidents at work – statistics by economic activity

Developments over time

Non-fatal accidents

In 2021, there were 2.9 million non-fatal accidents that resulted in at least four calendar days of absence from work in the EU (see Table 1). The total number of non-fatal accidents at work in the EU rose between 2012 and 2019, up some 203,000 (equivalent to an overall increase of 6.9 %). To some extent, this increase may reflect methodological changes in data collection/compilation in some of the EU Member States. For more information, please refer to the data sources section of the main article on accidents at work statistics. In 2020, this upward trend was interrupted, as the number of non-fatal accidents fell by 405,000, down 12.9 %. This change reflects, at least in part, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on EU labour markets and working conditions. In 2021, there was a partial rebound in the number of non-fatal accidents, up 150,900 (equivalent to an increase of 5.5 %).

In absolute terms, non-fatal accidents in 2021, in the EU were most common in:

• manufacturing – 547,000 (19.0 % of the total);
• human health and social work activities – 384,000 (13.3 %);
• construction – 369,000 (12.8 %);
• distributive trades – 357,000 (12.4 %).

Given that the workforces of these activities vary greatly in size, the incidence rate (the number of non-fatal accidents at work for every 100,000 persons employed) gives a clearer impression of where workers were more likely to encounter non-fatal accidents.

In 2021, the highest incidence of non-fatal accidents at work in the EU was observed in construction, with 3,152 such accidents per 100,000 persons employed. Transport and storage (2,622 per 100,000) and administrative and support service activities (2,380 per 100,000) were the only other NACE sections with incidence rates above 2,000 per 100,000 persons employed. The lowest incidence rate among the selected activities was for public administration and defence (1,214 per 100,000 persons employed), as shown in Table 1.

There was an overall decrease in the EU’s incidence rate of non-fatal accidents between 2012 and 2019 (down 4.2 %), reflecting growth in the number of persons employed. Among the selected activities, incidence rates for non-fatal accidents at work were generally lower in 2019 than in 2012. This situation was observed for 8 out of the 10 NACE sections for which data are shown. Between 2012 and 2019 there were considerable increases in incidence rates for non-fatal accidents for public administration and defence (up 32.7 %) and human health and social work activities (up 12.3 %). Note that the changes observed for the EU in some activities may be linked to changes in coverage of specific activities for some EU Member States, for example because of the end of derogations or voluntary data collection.

Focusing just on the two latest annual changes, the incidence rate of non-fatal accidents fell 10.0 % between 2019 and 2020 (note that there is a break in series) and then increased 5.0 % between 2020 and 2021.

• A decrease in 2020 was observed for 8 out of the 10 NACE sections for which information is presented:
  • the largest decrease was recorded for accommodation and food service activities, which had been particularly impacted in 2020 by restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 crisis, down 30.2 %;
  • the only activities that recorded an increase in the incidence rate of non-fatal accidents in 2020 were agriculture, forestry and fishing (up 3.1 %) and human health and social work activities (up 17.7 %).
• An increase in 2021 was observed for 9 out of the 10 NACE sections for which information is presented:
  • the largest increases were recorded for agriculture, forestry and fishing (up 18.6 %) and transport and storage (up 18.5 %);
  • the only activity that recorded a decrease in the incidence rate of non-fatal accidents in 2021 was human health and social work activities (down 8.5 %).

Fatal accidents

In 2021, there were 3,347 fatal accidents at work in the EU (see Table 2), resulting in a ratio of 862 non-fatal accidents for every fatal accident. There was a decrease in the total number of fatal accidents at work in the EU between 2012 and 2019, some 349 fewer (equivalent to an overall decrease of 9.3 %). This decrease continued in 2020 and 2021: there were 50 fewer deaths in 2020 (note that there is a break in series) and 11 fewer in 2021, down 1.5 % and 0.3 %, respectively.

In absolute terms, fatal accidents in the EU were most common in 2021 in:

• construction, 741 (22.1 % of the total);
• transport and storage, 548 (16.4 %);
• manufacturing, 482 (14.4 %);
• agriculture, forestry and fishing, 382 (11.4 %);
• distributive trades, 322 (9.6 %).

In 2021, the highest incidence rate of fatal accidents at work (the number of fatal accidents at work for every 100,000 persons employed) in the EU was observed in mining and quarrying with 7.2 fatal accidents per 100,000 persons employed. Construction (6.3 per 100,000 persons employed), agriculture forestry and fishing (5.5 per 100,000) and transport and storage (5.4 per 100,000) were the only other NACE sections with incidence rates above 2.0 per 100,000 persons employed. Among the economic activities shown in Table 2, the lowest incidence rate was for human health and social work activities (0.5 per 100,000).

Across the EU, the

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
• SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

• Incidence rate of non-fatal accidents at work per 100,000 persons employed
• Incidence rate of fatal accidents at work per 100,000 persons employed
• Share of non-fatal accidents at work by economic activity
• Share of fatal accidents at work by economic activity
• Share of non-fatal accidents at work by sex
• Share of non-fatal accidents at work by age group
• Share of non-fatal accidents at work by injured body part
• Share of fatal accidents at work by injured body part
• Share of non-fatal accidents at work by type of injury
• Share of fatal accidents at work by type of injury

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: ec.europa.eu

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