Workplace accident statistics: a new study by EUROGIP assesses comparability between countries

EUROGIP has published a new study entitled “Accidents at work statistics in Europe – limits of comparability.“ (French)

To assess accident rates, it has become common practice to compare statistics between European countries. However, an informed reading requires knowledge of what each country includes in these statistics: which worker populations are covered? Which events are counted? According to which rules are they reported or recognized? Which data are published?

In this new study, EUROGIP explores workplace accident statistics from six countries (Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, and Luxembourg) identified as relatively comparable within the European Union. The quality of the data and the availability of methodological information allow for an in-depth analysis of these statistics.

Using national sources, this study examines the evolution of the number of workplace accidents, identifies the most accident-prone sectors of activity, analyzes the criteria for severity, and focuses on fatal workplace accidents.

Beyond trends, the study highlights the impact of structural parameters that effectively limit comparisons between countries: underreporting, recognition processes, and the role of “medical conditions” (heart attacks, strokes) in workplace mortality are all factors that must be taken into account when analyzing comparative statistics.

This study provides a better understanding of statistics on workplace accidents, enabling an informed reading of European comparisons, as proposed by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat).