Workplace fatal accidents go up

A total of 51 persons died at the place of work or while commuting in 2015, according to Statistics Finland.

The Statistics Finland on Thursday released the report which said that of the fatal accidents at work, 27 occurred to wage and salary earners, five to farmers and three to other self-employed persons.

In addition, 16 fatal accidents took place while commuting, of which 13 occurred to wage and salary earners and three to self-employed persons.

The victims of all fatal accidents at work included 40 wage and salary earners, five farmers and six other self-employed persons.

The number of fatal accidents at work rose clearly from the year before, as in 2014 a total of 45 persons died at work or while commuting.

More than 127,000 accidents at work occurred in Finland in 2015. Around 117,000 of these occurred to wage and salary earners and some 10,700 to self-employed persons including farmers.

The majority or almost 107,000 of all accidents at work occurred at places of work or while in work traffic, whereas around 21,000 of them occurred while commuting. These numbers also include minor accidents at work that led to disability lasting less than four days, and on which insurance companies paid compensation only for medical treatment expenses.

The number of accidents at work increased slightly in 2015. In 2014, there were close on 127,000 accidents at work and in 2013 the respective figure was around 135,000.