Key Features of 2023 - Health and safety in the workplace

The incidence rate statistics for the general social security regime since the health crisis show a real decline, in volume terms, in the number of accidents at work compensated by a sick leave. However, this decline, boosted by accidents at work, which are the most numerous incidents, should not cover up a more contrasting reality, because commuting accidents and occupational diseases, on the other hand, post significant increases (+5% and +7% respectively).

These trends must also be viewed from an historical perspective. More specifically, a period of prolonged decline in the number of accidents at work and occupational diseases followed the financial crisis of 2008. At that time the accident frequency was around 40 accidents per 1000 workers, and it fell to 22 per 1000 in the course of the following decade. We assume that the health crisis could have led to profound changes in the relation to work, and that health is one of the operational reflections of this.

This diagnostic is the same for other European countries such as Germany and Luxembourg.

Moreover, the decline in the number of incidents concerns only compensated accidents. For their part, accidents not giving entitlement to more than three days' sick leave increased in 2023 compared with 2022.

We view these results cautiously and will continue to observe the evolution of these trends over the coming years.

Another notable event in 2023 was the production, for the first time, of gender-based incidence rate statistics. These show that while men are twice as much at risk as women with regard to accidents at work, most commuting accidents concern women, and the same is true for musculoskeletal disorders, which are the primary cause of occupational diseases.

These indications are consistent with the gender-based representation of employment statistics: for women, the sectors of activity accounting for the most accidents and diseases are retailing, welfare work and medico-social accommodation. The restaurants and catering and administrative sectors are also concerned.

Against this backdrop, the main recent news in the Occupational Injuries Branch was the signature of the objectives and management agreement ("Convention d’objectifs et de gestion" - COG) with the government authorities. Under this agreement, the Branch's entire network (regional funds, CPAM, INRS and Eurogip) has ambitious plans between now and 2028 regarding prevention, recognition, compensation and premium calculation for occupational risks. The agreement provides them with the relevant prevention resources to implement these plans, and we shall continue to invest in the information system so that it may also constitute a performance driver."

Citer cette brochure : Assurance Maladie - Risques professionnels. Key Features of 2023 - Health and safety in the workplace. Février 2025.