Serious and/or fatal accidents on the workplace in the European Union are decreasing. The downward trend is confirmed in the “Report on Labour and Health” published by Eurostat (EU Statistics Office) in collaboration with the European Foundation for the improvement of living and labour conditions last week, to mark World Day on health and safety on the workplace. During 2001, the number of serious accidents defined as those involving more than three days absence from work – totalled 4.7 million, equivalent to an average decrease of 23% over 1994. But there are also exceptions to the overall positive trend registered: Sweden, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Estonia, Latvia and Cyprus present alarming statistics especially in terms of the increase in the number of fatal accidents. Denmark, Italy and Germany, on the contrary, have reduced by over a third the number of serious accidents over the last three years. The Report also discusses violence, discrimination and intimidation on the workplace, the data for which are on the increase due to the growth in episodes of this kind reported: according to Eurostat, 6.4% of women and 4.7% of men were victims of physical violence on the workplace in 2000. For further information, consult the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/
