More work - more accidents

Greater expenditure required from the German Social Accident Insurance for curative treatment and rehabilitation

28-Jul-2011

More companies, more employees, more working hours - but also more occupational accidents: the statistics from the German Social Accident Insurance for 2010 reflect the recovery in the German economy. The positive economic trend has been accompanied by a slight increase in the occupational accident risk. This conclusion can be drawn from the annual results for the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions, which were presented today in Berlin by their umbrella association, the DGUV. The results show that the risk increased from 24.3 to 25.8 accidents per 1,000 equivalent full workers. Despite this increase, the accident figures are still below 2008 levels (26.8 occupational accidents per 1,000 equivalent full workers).

In absolute terms, this means that in 2010, the German Social Accident Insurance provided insurance cover to 75.5 million people. This figure includes schoolchildren, volunteers and employees. This is an increase of 0.7% over the previous year. At the same time, the number of hours worked also rose, by 3.2%, to 59,106 billion. The number of reportable occupational accidents rose in 2010 by 7.7%, to 954,459. 519 occupational accidents were fatal, 63 more than in the preceding year.

"A booming economy doesn't just mean that the tills are ringing," says Dr. Joachim Breuer, Director General of the DGUV. A faster pace of work also causes the accident risk to rise." To counter this, the German Social Accident Insurance recommends investments in occupational safety and health, particularly the integration of OSH into all company procedures. "Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are advised to take advantage of the prevention services provided free of charge by the accident insurance institutions. If such measures are not taken, the economic boom will come at a price in terms of human health, and therefore also of companies' success in the long term."

A further reason for the rising accident figures was the heavy snow and freezing temperatures at the beginning and end of the past year. The transport and logistics sectors were particularly affected, besides postal and newspaper delivery personnel. The sharp increase in commuting accidents can also be attributed to the risk of slipping and falling in the winter weather. Such accidents rose in 2010 by 25.4%, to 223,973. 367 commuting accidents were fatal - five more than in 2009.

Occupational diseases

The number of confirmed cases of occupational disease rose significantly, by 22.1%. The reason is to be found in changes in administration procedures, says Breuer. "A large number of the confirmed occupational diseases are skin diseases. In the past, cases of skin disease that were treated successfully were classified as being formally rejected. This practice has now been changed." A confirmed case of an occupational disease is one in which the occupational origin of the disease has been identified, but for which the statutory requirements for formal recognition, such as cessation of the occupation, have not been met. The affected individuals nevertheless receive curative treatment and personal preventive measures.

Formal recognition of a case of occupational disease is a criterion for payment of a pension. A pension is paid when the earning capacity is reduced by at least 20%. The number of recognized cases of occupational disease fell slightly in 2010, to 15,461 (a drop of 3.8%). 6,123 insured individuals were awarded a pension owing to an occupational disease. 2,486 individuals died as a result of an occupational disease. This constitutes a drop of 10.2% compared to the previous year. The majority of the reported fatalities (2,092) were caused by inorganic dusts, particularly asbestos.

Rehabilitation and pensions

In 2010, the German Social Accident Insurance spent €3.676 billion on curative medical treatment and rehabilitation for insured individuals. This figure represents a 6.5% rise over the previous year. Expenditure for financial compensation rose by 1%, to €5.628 billion. The German Social Accident Insurance spent approximately €911 million on prevention.

In trade and industry, employers were obliged to pay €9.8 billion in 2010 for the contribution target of the corresponding accident insurance institutions. This was an increase of €352 million (3.7%) over the previous year. The background to this rise was the higher outlay for curative treatment and rehabilitation. Consequently, the average premiums paid by businesses to the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for trade and industry rose in 2010 from €1.31 to €1.32 per €100 of assessable earnings.

Premiums paid to the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for the public sector rose slightly (+1.3%), to €1.238 billion.

German Social Accident Insurance for students

17.123 million children in daycare facilities, schoolchildren and students were insured in 2010 by the German Social Accident Insurance for students. The responsible institutions, the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for the public sector and for local authorities, noted 1,307,348 reportable accidents in children's daycare facilities, schools and universities. This corresponds to a rise of 4.5%. The accident rate within this form of insurance is 76.4 per 1,000 insured children/students (previous year: 73.3). Six fatal accidents covered by the German Social Accident Insurance for students occurred in 2010, eight fewer than in the previous year. The number of reportable commuting accidents covered by the German Social Accident Insurance for students rose to 124,572, an increase of 7.8%. 50 of these commuting accidents were fatal, five more than in 2009.

Background: mandatory accident reporting

In the German Social Accident Insurance system as a whole, occupational and commuting accidents must be reported when they lead to death or to incapacity for work for more than three days. In the German Social Accident Insurance for students, the reporting of accidents is mandatory when an insured child or student suffers an accident at the establishment or commuting accident that is fatal or necessitates medical treatment.