Occupational accidents 2020 reflect different levels of concern in the industry
Overall, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) also saw a corona-related decline in the number of occupational accidents last year. In Germany, the construction industry was hit particularly hard, with the most frequent accidents involving falls from a height.
The measures taken to contain the Corona pandemic had an impact on a wide range of economic sectors worldwide. However, in Germany, too, there has been an overall decline in the number of in-plant occupational accidents among all employees. The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) mentions an 11.4 percent decrease in occupational accidents across all industries (approximately 640,000 cases compared to 82,700 cases). However, this figure masks a differentiated picture. While the number of accidents in the construction industry fell by 0.1 percent, the catering industry in particular recorded a drop of a good 40 percent due to corona. The arts, entertainment and recreation sectors recorded an equally large drop in the number of accidents, with a minus of 26.9 percent. However, this also includes museums, zoos and fitness studios, many of which were closed for months.
Serious fall accidents on construction sites
But when it comes to the particularly serious consequences of occupational accidents, the most frequent fall accidents still occur in the construction industry. In Germany, a person fell from a height at work almost 35,000 times in 2020. In 60 cases, this fall ended fatally - in 2558 cases, the consequences were so severe that the accident victims are now subject to permanent accident compensation. The most frequent cases of falls occurred in connection with ladders, followed by falls on stairs and truck steps, loading platforms or elevating platforms.
Against this background, the DGUV raises awareness of a great deal of industry-specific information on fall protection, including in particular the use of personal protective equipment. Also of interest is the Online PDF on occupational accidents 2020 of the DGUV, which shows various accident histories and prevention measures.
Source: DGUV
