European workplace fatality data shows safety varies by country and industry; reporting issues affect some nations.
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Eurostat’s 2023 report indicates that the safest countries in the EU regarding fatal workplace accidents are the Netherlands, Germany, and theoretically Greece, with fewer than one death per 100,000 workers. Austria, Latvia, Cyprus, and Bulgaria rank near the bottom, while France has the highest rate at 3.6 deaths per 100,000 employees. The European average is 1.63, which Poland matches. Construction is the most dangerous sector across the EU with 24% of fatalities, followed by transport/storage (16%) and industry (13%), with men being disproportionately affected in these sectors. In Poland, 67,000 workplace accidents were reported in 2024, resulting in 200 deaths; the accident rate increased from 4.8 to 4.9 between 2021 and 2023. Silesian Voivodeship has the most accidents, while Mazowieckie is the safest nationally. Mining/extraction (17.48) and waste management are high-risk sectors in Poland. In Spain, two people die daily from work accidents, with construction being the riskiest sector due to physical strain and collisions. Spanish data for 2023 showed nearly 650,000 workplace accidents, causing 616 deaths. France reports the most accidents in healthcare and social care, followed by mechanics and administration; in 2022, 738 people died from work-related incidents. Young, temporary, and newly employed workers are particularly vulnerable. Greece faces underreporting of fatalities, with nearly three-quarters of workplace deaths not officially recorded, hindering effective action. The EU’s “Vision Zero” strategy aims to prevent such incidents. In Greece, most reported deaths occur in agriculture but are classified as road incidents, and the country does not track occupational diseases or heat stress effectively.
