Every year, the period from July 1 to July 7 is designated as “National Safety Week.” During this period, the Labor Ministry and prefectural labor bureaus encourage companies to take active measures to prevent workplace accidents. The Labor Ministry has recently disclosed the status of industrial accidents in 2023. This article looks at the data and the Labor Ministry’s efforts.
[1] Industrial accidents resulting in death or injuries
During the period from January to December 2023, 135,371 workers took leave of absence for four or more days or died due to industrial accidents (excluding cases related to COVID-19). The figure rose by 3,016 from the previous year in an increase for three consecutive years.
By business category, the largest 27,194 workers had accidents in the manufacturing (up 500 year-on-year), followed by the commerce sector including retailing, where 21,673 workers were involved in accidents (down 29 year-on-year). The health and hygiene sector including social welfare facilities had 18,786 cases (up 1,549 year-on-year) and the land transport industry logged 16,215 cases (down 365 year-on-year).
By accident types, the most common in the manufacturing was “caught in or between,” followed by “reaction to motion or improper motion.” In retailing, “falls to the same level” was most common, followed by “reaction to motion or improper motion” and “falls from height.” In social welfare facilities, “reaction to motion or improper motion” topped the list and “falls to the same level” was the next most common.
[2] Efforts by the Labor Ministry
Industrial accidents resulting in injuries or death are generally on the rise. To prevent accidents attributed to behaviors of workers (particularly middle-aged or older women), the Labor Ministry has been focusing on the following measures, based on the 14th Industrial Accident Prevention Plan, with the aim of reducing cases of “falls” or “reaction to motion or improper motion,” which have been increasing in the retail industry or welfare facilities.
- Promote awareness of falling accidents that are common among middle-aged or older women and give basic points to prevent falls (check list)
- Encourage purchases of gear or equipment to prevent falls with the Age-Friendly Subsidy, etc., and promote effort to improve or maintain workers’ physical abilities with the support of physical therapists or certified health exercise instructors.
- Promote the use of applications and videos for effective and efficient health and safety education (including education to prevent falls).
- Encourage companies’ voluntary efforts to prevent falls and other accidents by making amounts of losses caused by falls and other accidents visible and other measures, while continuing behavioral economics study, including fall prevention by “nudging.”
To prevent industrial accidents, companies are required to check their safety and health management structures and make necessary improvements as soon as possible. Please also draw up and examine your safe operation manual and prevent accidents.
[Reference]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Disclosure of fiscal 2023 status of industrial accidents”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_40395.html
“Fiscal 2024 National Safety Week starts in July”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_39684.html
The information is based on laws and regulations as of the article’s date.
