Germany Experienced Rise in Occupational Fatalities in 2010

Jan. 12, 2012
Germany's latest occupational safety and health annual report shows that the country experienced a 7.3 percent increase in fatal work-related injuries in 2010. Conditions including economic growth, a rise in employment, higher work intensity, speed and pressure may have led to this increase, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

The report, released in late December 2011, also revealed that Germany had experienced a rise in commuting accidents, especially logistics, transport and courier services. While rates of occupational diseases, including skin diseases, hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders (particularly lower back issues) increased, fatal occupational diseases decreased significantly, EU-OSHA added.

The report also examined the state of occupational health and safety in the public sector, revealing that these workers were more likely to work on Sundays, holidays and on call. The report also indicated that public sector employees more often had high workloads and had to carry out new tasks, make frequent changes to work procedures, conduct simultaneous tasks and perform new tasks without training.

Finally, the report focused on the health and safety impacts of workplace restructuring. According to the report, supervisors and workers who remained after restructuring endured high work pressure, intensity and the pressure to work quickly. These employees and supervisors suffered increased stress and related health disorders, including sleeping problems, fatigue, headaches and musculoskeletal disorders.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

Sponsored Recommendations

Committing to Safety: Why Leadership’s Role in Safety Excellence is Key

Jan. 13, 2025
Leadership has the power to transform an organization through their behavior and vision, which can result in the creation of an organizational culturethat supports safety excellence...

Speak Up! Cementing "See Something, Say Something" to Drive Safety

Jan. 13, 2025
Many organizations promote "see something, say something" to encourage their people to intervene and make work safe. But most don't go far enough to equip teams with the skills...

The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease

Jan. 13, 2025
DEKRA announces its latest white paper, “The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease,” as a definitive look into why being vulnerable to incidents strengthens our commitment...

Mitigating Risks: Strategies for Safeguarding Workers in Hazardous Workplaces

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our expert team in taking on the challenge to make safety part of your organization’s DNA as work, the workforce, and workplaces evolve.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!