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According to data published by the Austrian Social insurance for occupational injuries (AUVA) in mid-June, 145,748 claims were registered last year, broken down as follows 29,866 accidents (at work and and students), 13,062 commuting accidents and 2,820 cases of occupational diseases. While the number of accidents (at work and on the way to work) has increased, the number of occupational diseases has decreased compared to 2022.
The increase in accidents is mainly due to a higher number of sports accidents among students (+4,531), as school activities such as field trips, ski lessons, hikes and sports weeks resumed after the pandemic.
Most of the accidents at work in 2023 occurred in the “Manufacturing” sector (18,098), construction (15,675), where accidents are relatively common, and retail trade (13,318).
Of the cases of occupational disease, 64.1% were due to infectious diseases, including 1,801 cases of Covid-19. This still high figure shows that the pandemic continues to have an impact on the world of work. The other recognised diseases were:
- Noise induced hearing loss: 22.9
- Asbestos-related diseases: 3.3
- Skin diseases: 2.5
- Respiratory diseases caused by irritant or toxic chemical substances: 2.3%.
By 2023, AUVA says it will have invested more than €77 million in accident prevention and advice for small businesses. In addition, until the end of 2024, the organisation will focus on the topic of road safety in relation to work and training as part of the “Arrive safely” prevention initiative (Komm gut an!).
