Over 900,000 occupational and leisure accidents
Last year, around 911,000 occupational and leisure accidents and occupational illnesses were reported to the 23 Swiss accident insurers under the UVG. This is a significant increase of 9.5 percent compared to the previous year, as Suva writes.
There was a particularly sharp increase in leisure accidents (+12% to around 601,000). This was mainly due to the discontinuation of the Corona measures and the sunny and dry weather last year, which led to increased outdoor activities, Suva said. The number of occupational accidents and illnesses also peaked at around 293,000, 5.9 percent higher than in 2021, it said, largely due to the increase in the number of employees. On the other hand, there was a decrease in the number of accidents among jobseekers (-14% to around 16,000), as there were fewer registered jobseekers compared with the previous year. Around 1,000 accidents were reported among persons in IV measures.
According to the data, in 2021 all UVG accident insurers together paid CHF 5.0 billion in insurance benefits, mainly for medical costs (medical and therapeutic services), daily allowances and disability and survivors' pensions. Recreational accidents accounted for the largest share of costs at 63 percent, while 33.5 percent was paid for occupational accidents and diseases and 3.5 percent for accidents suffered by people seeking employment, according to the statement. Ongoing costs for 2022 (costs for all cases, regardless of the year in which they occurred) are not yet fully known, it said. On average, about 96 percent of all reported accidents and occupational illnesses are recognized and benefits are awarded.
Influence of weather on leisure and occupational accidents
The weather also has a major influence on accident figures - especially leisure accidents. On the one hand, unfavorable weather conditions could lead to an increased risk of accidents (e.g. icy roads, more falling accidents). On the other hand, nice weather tends to favor riskier leisure activities. For example, more hiking and cycling accidents are recorded in sunny and warm weather.
In contrast to leisure accidents, the weather has less of an effect on the number of occupational accidents. Even in industries that often work outdoors, there is no significant difference in the frequency of accidents between nice and not so nice days. The situation is different on hot days with temperatures of more than 30 degrees: According to Suva, there are 7 percent more accidents than usual in the construction and transport sectors. The most frequent causes of accidents are heat strokes, heat collapses or heat cramps. The greater fatigue and lack of concentration caused by the heat also have an impact on the risk of accidents.
The relationship between accident occurrence and weather also plays an important role in the evaluation of prevention measures. The effectiveness of prevention measures can only be reliably measured by taking into account other factors affecting the occurrence of accidents - in particular the weather.
In the newly published accident statistics UVG 2023, the statistical results on the cases of the year 2022 and on the costs and accident occurrence of the year 2021 are prepared. The accident statistics are available in printed form and online at German and French available. Individual print copies can be ordered free of charge from the SSUV: unfallstatistik@suva.ch. For more information www.unfallstatistik.ch
Who is insured?
All employees working in Switzerland are compulsorily insured against occupational accidents and diseases under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG). Anyone who works at least eight hours a week is also insured against leisure accidents. Also compulsorily insured against occupational and leisure accidents are people seeking employment and, since January 1, 2022, people in IV measures, according to Suva's media release.
