Record level of accidents
In 2009, compulsory accident insurance recorded a further 1.4% increase in the number of accidents compared to the previous year, bringing the number of cases to 772,000.
It is 17 years since a similarly high number was last reported.
SUVA noted an historic high in the number of leisure-related accidents at 498,000 cases (up 3.3%). This is the highest level recorded since compulsory accident insurance was introduced in 1984.
Without going into detail* on this 3.3% jump, representing a 5% increase for women (the number of employees with LAA (1) insurance has risen more among the female population) and 2.3% for men, favourable weather conditions have encouraged participation in winter sports.
This has had a significant impact on the number of skiing and snowboarding accidents (27,000 and 9,000 respectively), up 23%, while football accidents remained “stable” at 4%.
For economic reasons, the number of work-related accidents in production fell 3.5% (from 269,000 to 258,000).
Work-related accidents decreased more than 15% in the metallurgy and machine manufacturing industries, mainly owing to the declining occupancy rate in these sectors.
According to SUVA, “the common practice of partial unemployment means less exposure time to work-related accidents and higher exposure time to leisure-related accidents, for the same employees” People who have lost their jobs are insured with Suva against accidents under unemployment accident insurance.
As a result of the persistent recession in many sectors, the number of accidents among unemployed and jobseekers has risen 32% compared to the previous year, and stands at 15,500 cases.
These findings are derived from the statistics of the Accident Insurance Statistics Centralisation Office (SSAA), which publishes annual statistics on LAA accidents. They are based on the results of 37 LAA insurers who insure people in dependent gainful employment, and jobseekers, against work-related and non-work-related accidents and work-related illness.
* These statistics take several months to compile, based on collection of information, costs, salary amounts, premiums, number of full-time jobs, accident characteristics and reporting, before being forwarded by the insurers to the Centralisation Office.
Sources:
- Suva.ch
- OFS (Federal Statistics Office)
(1) Federal Law on Accident Insurance