Facts and figures

Insight into the causes and consequences of occupational accidents is obtained by analysing recorded occupational accidents. Companies are obliged to report serious occupational accidents to the Labour Inspectorate. The Labour Inspectorate then carries out an investigation into the causes and looks at whether a fine should be imposed.

These pages provide information on 9000 occupational accidents that were reported to the Dutch Labour Inspectorate in the period 1998-2004. It allows you to verify whether the accidents that already caused harm and delay in other companies are possible in your company.

The accidents were analysed by structuring the complete story behind each accident. Every accident is unravelled in the events that led to the accident and the events that followed afterwards, the consequences or effects. An example is given below.

An example
A forklift truck with a pellet on the fork is used to take stock. This is against the rules, but it is not prevented. Once at height, the victim takes a step to the left. The pellet tips over and slips with the victim. He falls, together with the pellet, on a concrete floor, two meters down. The pellet breaks his fall and immediate first aid is given. The victim is brought to the hospital and has to stay at home with a broken leg and contused rib for the next 6 weeks.

When a large number of accidents of the same type, such as struck by moving vehicle, are combined a set of all occurring causes and effects of a collision can be created. This provides insight into the measures that can be taken to prevent collisions or to mitigate the seriousness of the injury.

The most important causes and effects of 35 types of accidents are combined in so-called Facts and Figures. They describe on 3 pages for every type of accident (e.g. struck by moving vehicle, or aggression)

• the total number of serious accidents of this type that is reported to the Dutch labour inspectorate yearly
• the most important activities that a person carried out when the accident happened or other important factors (e.g. type of tools, machines, material used)
• the direct causes (e.g. pedestrian was invisible for driver )
• the underlying causes that can be traced back to the tasks of management (e.g. providing a pedestrian area that vehicles are not allowed to enter)

This information allows you to work out the most important causes of accidents and the most important preventive measures. It is obvious that you make your own evaluation whether the accidents may happen in your company and whether the necessary preventive measures are implemented correctly.

Disclaimer
Every effort is made to ensure that the information provided on this site is accurate and up to date, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements.