The French Occupational Injury and Diseases Insurance Fund has published “The Essentials 2024 – Occupational Health and Safety”, a report presenting statistics on workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and daily benefits, as well as key developments of the year in the areas of prevention and support for insured individuals.

Generally stable indicators

With nearly 20.8 million employees covered in 2024, the claims indicators confirm the trends observed since 2022: a decline in workplace accidents and a stabilization in commuting accidents.

Compared to 2023, the figures are as follows:

• 549,614 workplace accidents (–1.1%);
• 94,654 commuting accidents (+0.7%).

Regarding workplace accidents, the sectors and risks remain the same as in previous years: the most affected are healthcare, cleaning, and temporary work (29%), food services (17%), transportation (16%), and construction (14%).

In total, 764 fatal accidents were recognized, representing 5 more deaths than in 2023. More than half (59%) were related to sudden illness, while 13% resulted from traffic accidents.

Rise in Occupational Diseases

The number of recognized occupational diseases increased by more than 3,100 cases compared to 2023, exceeding the 50,000-case threshold for the first time in ten years. 

Among these, 1,805 involved mental health conditions, representing a 9% increase over the past year. This figure has more than doubled since 2020, rising from 840 to 1,805 cases. Nearly three-quarters of these cases involve depression (73%).

Work-related mental health conditions and psychosocial risks (PSRs) may also be recognized as workplace accidents. Thus, nearly 29,000 work-related accidents recognized in 2024 are linked to mental health conditions or psychosocial risks, representing more than 5% of all work-related accidents.

Daily benefits become the largest expense category

The amount of benefits related to work-related accidents and occupational diseases increased by 6.5% in 2024 compared to 2023. Daily benefits (IJ) constitute, for the first time, the largest expenditure item in the occupational accident and occupational disease sector, surpassing the item for permanent disabilities (IP).

Daily benefits paid for occupational accidents and occupational diseases therefore continue their strong growth in 2024, reaching a total of 4.9 billion euros. Their growth momentum has accelerated, with an annual growth rate that has been rising since 2022, reaching +10.8% in 2024 compared to 2023.

Learn more: The Essentials 2024 Health and Safety at Work (EN)