A person sitting on the ground dressed in the safety vest with a protective helmet next to him. People are gathered around him.

In 2021, the EU recorded more than 2.17 million work accidents in agriculture, industry, construction and services to the business economy that resulted in workers being absent from work for 4 days or more. This marks an 11% increase compared with 2020 during which 1.96 million accidents were recorded, and a 9% decrease compared with 2019 (2.4 million accidents). This development also reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by inactivity or reduced activity in certain sectors.

Many of these accidents resulted in wounds and superficial injuries (31.4%), followed by dislocations, sprains, and strains (24.6%), as well as concussions and internal injuries (19.9%) and bone fractures (11.8%).

Accidents at work in the EU by type of injury, 2021, % of accidents. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: hsw_mi07

The most common areas of injury for the workers in agriculture, industry, construction and services to the business economy were the upper extremities (41.8%) and lower extremities (29.2%). Additionally, a significant portion of injuries affected the back, including the spine and vertebrae (10.0%), and the head (6.6%).

Accidents at work by part of body injured, 2021, % of accidents. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: hsw_mi06

This article marks the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, commemorated on 28 April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.

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Methodological note

  • The data presented refers to the accidents in the enterprises falling under section A, C-N of the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE), namely agriculture, industry and construction (except mining) and services of the business economy.  
  • An accident at work is defined as an occurrence during the course of work, which leads to physical or mental harm. 

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