Over 1000 industrial accident deaths in Italy last year

ROME – As many as 700,000 industrial accidents including 1,090 deaths were reported in the Italian workplace in 2022, one of the highest death tolls in Europe, The National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work (INAIL) said Monday.

 There has been an increase of 140,000 accidents compared to the 2021 figure, with a slight decrease in the number of fatal accidents. However, this figure still remains remarkably high with at least 3 deaths every day. Walter Montagnoli, the national secretary of the Confederazione Unitaria di Base (CUB), has commented on these statistics saying that ‘there is a lack of control in the workplace and the focus is often on maximising profit’. 

 Data from (INAIL) shows a clear split in the country with the north of the country reporting far more accidents than the south. Lombardy alone has reported over 130,000 accidents, the highest number in absolute terms, and Emilia-Romagna has one of the highest rates of accidents reported per 100,000 people with a rate of 1834.  

 The North-South divide is blurred when looking at the statistics on fatal accidents. Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Veneto still remain amongst the worst regions with 164, 110, 111 and 105 fatalities respectively. However, the figures are still high in the centre and the south of the country with 128 deaths in Campania and 106 in Lazio. At the other extreme is Valle d-Aosta, in the very north of the country, with just 4 fatalities. 

 Out of the almost 700,000 accidents reported, about 550,000 involved Italian workers while more than 120,000 involved employees who originate from other countries – totalling at 17 per cent of all accidents. Given the fact that foreigners make up 10 per cent of Italy’s workforce, this is an important statistic. According to Montagnoli the foreign workers ‘are often people working in extremely precarious situations. They are sent to the workplace without any training or preparation’. 

 The age group most prone to accidents is that between 15 and 24 years old, 3.59 per cent of the total workforce. Close behind are men and women aged between 55 and 64 who are also those with the highest fatality rate. Montagnoli comments on age as a factor in these statistics. ‘If an older person is sent out on a roof or scaffolding, it is not surprising if he or she falls. In this case, the company is responsible’, the CUB secretary denounces.  

 Regarding the gender breakdown, men have a higher accident and fatality rate than women. In 2022, 411,000 accidents were reported with 970 fatalities for men compared to 286,000 accidents and 120 deaths for women. 

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