Some hundred fatal work-related accidents each year

The number of persons who died in the Netherlands as a result of work-related accidents amounted to 93 in 2004. The most common type of work-related accident is getting caught between two or more objects, followed by fatal falls. One quarter of casualties were construction workers.

Fewer work-related accidents than in 2003

In 2003 there were 109 fatal occupational injuries, whereas in 2002 only 89 were recorded. In the period 1996-2004 the annual number of work-related deaths wavered between 88 and 126.

More than half of victims caught between objects or killed after fall

Nearly four in every ten deadly injured in 2003 and 2004 were caught between objects. Over a quarter did not survive a fall in the workplace. One in eight was hit by a swaying or falling object.

Work-related fatal accidents by cause, 2003/2004

Transport vehicles involved in three out of ten cases

One in three fatal work-related accidents involved a transport vehicle such as a crane, power shovel or lift. The rate for the sector transport, however, was no less than 70 percent. The rate was also high in the sectors agriculture, manufacturing industry and trade, where one quarter to half of fatal accidents involved transport equipment. In one quarter of cases, the accident involved a building, ladder, scaffold or roof. In the sector construction this applied to half of deadly accidents.

Work-related fatal accidents by object involved, 2003/2004

Industry and construction account for nearly half of victims

Altogether, over a quarter of fatal injured in 2003 and 2004 were employed in the construction sector, one fifth in manufacturing industry. With 5.8 per 100,000 workers, the rate was highest in the sector construction, followed by the sector agriculture and fisheries with a rate of 4.9 per 100,000 workers. Manufacturing industry compares favourable with a modest 1.9 fatal injured per 100,000 workers.

Work-related fatal accidents by sector, 2003/2004

Among the 93 deadly injured in 2004  72 were living in the Netherlands. This means that one fifth of persons involved in work-related fatal accidents were not registered as residents. The sector transport recorded the highest number of non-residents. Fatal accidents recorded during port activities partly account for this phenomenon.

Wim van den Berg