Key Figures
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Reported Work-Related Accidents and Illnesses | 281,162 (+0.3%) | 2025 |
| Non-work-related accidents (recreational), for comparison | 636,323 (+3.0%) | 2025 |
| Risk of a workplace accident | 61.8 cases per 1,000 full-time workers | 2022 |
| Accident Insurance Benefits (All Accidents) | Approximately 5.6 billion francs, 32% of which is for work-related accidents and illnesses | 2024 |
| Recognized Occupational Diseases | 2 979 | 2024 |
The number of workplace accidents remains stable, while leisure-related accidents continue to rise. Suva attributes this in part to prevention efforts and automation.
One statistic often comes as a surprise: most work-related deaths are not caused by accidents, but by occupational diseases. Between 2018 and 2022, there were an average of 64 deaths per year due to workplace accidents and 155 due to occupational diseases (LAA Statistics 2024, Table 2.4).
How Do Accidents Happen?
Workers' compensation statistics describe the sequence of events in each workplace accident. Over the 2018–2022 period, a few scenarios stand out:
| Sequence of Events Leading to the Accident | Percentage of Accidents | Share of costs |
|---|---|---|
| Slip, skid, stumble | A little more than a quarter | More than 41% |
| To be struck or hit by an object | Nearly a quarter | About 16% |
| To prick oneself, to cut oneself, to scratch oneself | Nearly 20% | Not specified |
| Fall from a Height | 6 % | About 23% |
Two key takeaways emerge:
• Slips and trips are the most common—and most costly—accidents. Nearly 70,000 people are affected each year. A wet floor, a loose cable, or a poorly lit staircase is all it takes.
• Falls from heights are rare but serious. They account for only 6% of accidents but nearly a quarter of the costs.
Injuries most commonly affect the hands, wrists, and fingers (about 29% of cases), followed by the legs, ankles, and feet (about 16%), and the eyes (about 10%).
Who is most at risk?
Construction, far ahead of the rest. In 2022, the average risk was 61.8 accidents per 1,000 full-time workers. In building construction and civil engineering, it reached 145, and in specialized construction work, more than 150—more than double the average.
Young people. In 2022, more than 50,000 workplace accidents involved workers under the age of 25. Official statistics highlight that their risk of accidents is higher than average. A lack of experience and limited awareness of hazards often contribute to this; therefore, the orientation and supervision of new hires are crucial.
Men. They account for about 71% of workplace accidents, largely because they are more numerous in the highest-risk occupations.
But offices are not immune: a slip on a staircase or a fall in a parking lot can happen anywhere. Prevention is a concern for all businesses, not just construction sites.
What the Law Says
In Switzerland, the prevention of workplace accidents is based on three main legal texts:
• The Accident Insurance Act (LAA, Art. 82): The employer must take all necessary measures to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases, provided that such measures are feasible based on experience, the state of the art, and the company’s specific conditions. Employees, for their part, must follow instructions and use protective equipment.
• The Ordinance on Accident Prevention (OPA): It specifies these obligations, particularly regarding the provision of information and training to employees on risks.
• CFST Directive 6508 (MSST Directive), revised in 2025: This directive places hazard identification at the heart of the process and requires the involvement of safety specialists when the workplace presents specific hazards.
The employer must also organize first aid (Art. 36 OLT 3) to ensure that every accident is addressed promptly.
Prevention: Simple and Effective Strategies
The statistics show where to focus efforts first:
1. Floors and walkways. Slips and trips are the most common and costly accidents. Dry, appropriate flooring, unobstructed walkways, well-lit stairways, and appropriate footwear make a real difference.
2. Working at heights. Although rare, falls from heights are serious and require systematic protective measures and inspected equipment.
3. Hands and eyes. These are the body parts most at risk: gloves and safety glasses suited to the task, and tools in good condition.
4. New hires and young workers. A structured onboarding process, clear instruction, and mentoring during the first few weeks.
5. Analysis of each accident. Every accident—and every near-miss—provides valuable information. Understanding what happened, without assigning blame, helps prevent the next one.
A workplace accident is never inevitable. Many can be prevented with simple measures, consistently applied.
Sources
• Suva (June 30, 2026). 937,000 Accidents in Switzerland: Leisure Accidents Continue to Rise, press release.
• Central Statistical Office for Accident Insurance (SSAA). LAA Statistics 2024: Occupational Accidents and Illnesses in Switzerland.
• Suva (April 21, 2026). Suva Accident Statistics 2025.
