| dc.description.abstract | In 1998, the number of accidents at work resulting in more than three days' absence from work per 100 000 persons in employment (incidence) in the EU fell slightly, by 0.4%, to 4 089 (corresponding to 4.7 million accidents in the EU as a whole). In 1999 however, according to initial estimates, the incidence seems likely to have been close to the 1996 level of 4 229 per 100 000 (4 539 in 1994). The total number of accidents, including those not resulting in absence from work or resulting in 1 to 3 days' absence, was 7.4 million in 1998 (6 380 per 100 000). As a result of these accidents, 5% of the victims had to change to a different type of work or another job, or to reduce their working hours. 0.2% had to give up work entirely. Finally, there were 5 476 fatal accidents at work in 1998 (5 per 100 000), reaching a total of 8 600 deaths by including fatal accidents on the way to and from work. On average, 59% of all these fatal accidents were road traffic accidents or involved some form of transport. |
