In 2024, fewer employees experienced work accidents compared to 2023, mainly with fewer days of absence. The agriculture sector had the most accidents.
In 2024, 2.4 percent of employees experienced a work accident. In 2023, this was 2.7 percent. There were especially fewer accidents without absence or with less than four days of absence (sick leave). In agriculture, forestry, and fishing, proportionally the most employees had an accident. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) based on figures from the National Survey on Working Conditions, conducted in cooperation with TNO.
1.5 percent of all employees (aged 15 to 75) returned to work immediately after a work accident or were absent for a maximum of three days. Nearly 1 percent was absent for at least four days due to the accident at the workplace. This has remained approximately the same in recent years but is still slightly below the level of 2019 (before the coronavirus crisis).
Accidents without or with less than four days of absence
Accidents with four or more days of absence
% of employees aged 15 to 75 years
¹⁾ In the past twelve months.
Most frequent accidents in agriculture
In agriculture, forestry, and fishing, proportionally the most employees had an accident, both without and with short or longer absence. Also, in construction and in trade, transport, and hospitality, absence after an accident is proportionally high. Accidents occur least often in companies in financial services and in rental and trade of real estate.
Four or more days of absence
% of employees aged 15 to 75 years
¹⁾ In the past twelve months.
Psychological injury in 3 out of 10 accidents with at least four days of absence
In 2024, there were 85 thousand work accidents where the employee was absent for at least four days. In 30 percent of these accidents, the employee suffered psychological damage as the most serious injury. A dislocation, sprain, or strain is mentioned almost as often as the most serious injury in a workplace accident. Fractures, wounds, and superficial injuries are injuries sustained in 10 percent of accidents with at least four days of absence.
In most accidents where employees cannot work for at least four days, medical help is sought: 87 percent. In 44 percent of accidents, the employee visits the general practitioner or practice nurse, and 19 percent visit the emergency department of the hospital.
More than half of employees back to work within a month
In 56 percent of accidents with at least four days of absence, the employee is back at work within a month. In 20 percent, this absence lasts between one and three months, and in 22 percent three months or longer.
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