European comparisons
Work-related deaths have been steadily reducing across the EU, and in GB. Compared with other EU countries, GB performs well, with relatively low rates of fatalities, accidents and ill health.
Although health & safety systems differ across Europe, and countries record different information, Eurostat publishes data in as standardised a form as possible:
- Rates of fatal injury across the EU-15 and GB fell between 1998 and 2007. EU15 includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK.
- In 2008 the rate of fatal injuries was calculated using updated industry data, so differs slightly to previous years, however GB had the lowest rate of those published by Eurostat. GB performs well against other large economies such as France (1.68 per 100 000), Germany (1.87 per 100 000), Italy (2.39 per 100 000), Spain (2.63 per 100 000) and Poland (3.54 per 100 000).
- 2% of UK workers in 2007 reported an accident resulting in sick leave. This is lower than the overall EU rate (2.3%), and other large economies such as Germany (2.4%), France (3.6%), Spain (3.2%) and Italy (2.3%), however the rate in Poland (1.0%) was lower than the UK.
- 3.2% of UK workers in 2007 reported a work related illness resulting in sick leave; this was lower than Germany (4.6%), Italy (3.3%), Spain (4.2%), Poland (12%), and the overall EU rate (5.3%).
Standardised incidence rates (per 100 000 workers) of fatal injuries at work in GB and the EU, 1998-2007, and GB 2008 estimated incidence rate (Eurostat)
