Serious accidents at work: the government will draw inspiration from the experience of the Olympic Games

"Work accidents are not inevitable," declared Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet after visiting a logistics site and a construction site in Seine-et-Marne.

Two deaths and more than a hundred serious accidents causing temporary or permanent disability occur every day in France, a figure that has not fallen for many years, according to the ministry.

In 2022, 789 deaths were recorded, almost as many as in 2019 (790) before the health crisis.

The minister wants to "launch a contact group based on lessons from the Paris Olympic Games" which "reduced the accident rate by four on construction sites that could potentially be very accident-prone".

Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet wants to "change the lines" while she has "the impression that there is the same accommodation in France with regard to serious and fatal accidents at work, as there was twenty years ago with regard to road accidents".

By the end of the year, she wants to "meet at the ministry the 10 most affected branches, the ones with the highest incidence of serious and fatal accidents", noting significant disparities between the branches on this subject.

"If it is necessary to strengthen certain sanctions because it is a necessity, the subject will have to be studied," she warned.

A government campaign, which "aims to promote good practices in terms of prevention", is being broadcast until November 27 through advertising spots on television, radio and the internet, as well as through communication kits intended for employers and employees.

"Pragmatically", the minister said she was ready to examine ways of improving local social dialogue if this could lead to progress on health at work, while the threshold from which health commissions become mandatory in companies is currently set at 300 employees.

The rate of serious and fatal accidents at work in 2019 was 4,81 per 100.000 employees in France, compared to a European average of 2,17, but the ministry emphasizes that their accounting is not identical depending on the country, all fatal accidents occurring in the workplace being counted in France, for example, while in Germany they are only counted if the link with professional activity is proven.

Young people are particularly exposed to accidents at work in general due to "their lack of experience" and the sectors of agriculture, construction, hospitality/catering, industry and transport are very exposed.