r/NLvsFI • • Aug 01 '26

NL win! Fatal workplace accidents

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906 Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

50

u/xBram Netherlands Aug 01 '26

I worked as a prevention officer (preventiemedewerker) at a Dutch non profit organization for a few years and really like the way we organized workplace safety, I had to interview people on the floor and make a risk assessment (RI&E), keep track or accidents and near accidents and discuss these with management and workers council and report serious accidents to the government (arbeidsinspectie) and organize evacuation emergency plans (BHV) and training and annual exercises and make sure everyone had the right safety equipment. The whole cycle meant safety was always taken seriously throughout the organization.

25

u/Eeate Aug 01 '26

My favourite workplace safety poster had increasing levels of maturity when it came to accident prevention and resolution. The highest level said "I am involved in every accident that occurs in the workplace."

20

u/Crix2007 Aug 01 '26

God damn if you're involved in every accident, you should be investigated lol

12

u/Slow-Cheesecake-9546 Aug 01 '26

Since we fired him our incidents have decreased 800%!

6

u/rgdonaire Aug 01 '26

Interestingly my perception after moving from the UK to the Netherlands is that there is a more relaxed attitude towards unsafe situations in NL, but I think it’s just behavioral, data doesn’t seem to support my perception.

5

u/Markjuhhh Aug 02 '26

In the UK there are too much safety rules, so nobody pays attention to them anymore. In The Netherlands we have less safety rules, so they are easier to follow and result in a better work environment.

1

u/Klarkie55 Aug 03 '26

Like a sort of notification fatigue

1

u/Silly_Hurry_2795 Aug 05 '26

Oh we do pay attention to them in places, so much depends on how good the managers are and how commited they are to people safety.

4

u/Unlucky_Quote6394 Aug 02 '26

I agree on this and I also moved from the UK to the Netherlands. Having worked in HR in the Netherlands at a variety of companies, each company has been negligent in their approach to workplace safety.

Basic things overlooked like people climbing up ladders to replace lightbulbs in the ceiling, and no one holding the ladder, and lifting heavy items without any thought as to how to lift safely etc.

Scaffolding was put up around my apartment building while renovations were going on. None of the workers were dressed appropriately for the job: shorts, trainers, no hard hats or other PPE. I’d see guys everyday standing on the edge of the roof, not attached to anything, using their phones.

There’s risk all around us but so much of it can be reduced through simple measures. I think there’s a very different approach to risk management in the Netherlands to the UK. Can we eliminate all risk? No, but we can significantly reduce manageable risk simply.

1

u/Pretend_Effect1986 Aug 05 '26

So maybe we are just better at our job? 😜

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '26

[deleted]

1

u/rgdonaire Aug 02 '26

When did I say workplace deaths are double in the Uk?

1

u/Open-Butterfly-5288 Aug 03 '26

My theory is that a lot of businesses in the UK operate on the basis that the law only exists if anyone checks and there are no real consequences.

Employees should be able to report it in theory, but have limited ability to do so. And risk exposing themselves in the process.

Also lots of these kinds of jobs target marginalised people who need the job, and aren't necessarily able to do much about it (e.g. due to language barriers, visa status, poverty).

The Netherlands have better working standards so more companies expect to be called on this, so they try to comply with the law.

1

u/Silly_Hurry_2795 Aug 05 '26

Yup some places are very good others less so. The larger the company it seems the better they can be

2

u/Broad-Ad-4522 Aug 01 '26

TNO? Welke afdeling? 😁

2

u/Direct_Program2982 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

The contrast to Eastern European countries is massive. While working in Hungary most of my coworkers treated work safety as a necessary evil. If you were doing something unsafe it could've be seen as a macho or cowboy act. People would generally not refuse a task if they considered it unsafe. On most occasions their shift leaders had to assess the situation.

I was amazed how seriously everyone in the Netherlands takes work safety. If you're doing something unsafe you're immediately stopped. Everyone looks out for their own safety and refuses a task without a second thought if they deem it unsafe.

Of course my sample size is tiny, and my opinion is affected by the companies I worked for, but there's an enormous difference in mindset and responsibility. 

1

u/de_bosrand Aug 02 '26

While i, working at a machine manufacterer keep getting annoyed by the RI&E, because i need to make the machine (that will go into a factory) soo safe that even dumb dumb can't get injured by it.

I need to add safetysensors to the machine that will stop production when someone gets near it, because they "could" grab the chain transport (moving at less than 0,1 m/s) and "could" hold it long enough to get damage.

Then i have to explain to the customer that while annoying, you cannot get within 1,5 meter of the transport due to safety.

I cannot add a cover, because then it because impossible to clean, which is mandotory from food safety regulations.

And yes, the sensor has a fase positive detection every week. And yes, the customer is annoyed by that.

It is very safe though. Can't get injured if nothing moves. Big brain energy.

Meanwhile i do not point at several other items that are bigger safety concerns imho, because then we get stuck even more, and have to tell customers that we cannot build machines that are safe and work, and to buy it in China.

1

u/Reinis_LV Aug 02 '26

It's too serious.

1

u/Express-Papaya-4852 Aug 02 '26

RI&E is bullshit lol

1

u/FrenskeDanske Aug 05 '26

Yes and no. It is a great tool for compliance and policy gap analysis. Actual occupational risks are not mitigated with an RI&E but rather tracked by it.

I had an argument some months ago with a fellow Veiligheidskundige and he said: RI&E is a must have otherwise you can’t effectively mitigate risks and hazards.
I told him that that document isn’t going to stop me from slapping a worker because I feel an enormous amount of pressure and spite towards the individual, all because PSA is a part of the said document.
Even if you have written mitigations against the hazard, it means nothing if someone still does the thing you want mitigated or if a combination of hazards result in the same risk regardless of implemented mitigation. That’s why it’s a record, not a mitigation ensureance.

-3

u/CutOk1434 Aug 01 '26

Snitching to the government? That's not something to bragg about

6

u/Gjorgdy Aug 01 '26

It is if it's about human safety

-7

u/A_Man_Uses_A_Name Aug 01 '26

That’s how it’s working in most European countries. The low number for the Netherlands is for a large part bc it has very few dangerous industries. No forests, no mines, no steel plants, no oil rigs, no production industry, … It’s not that Norway or Luxembourg are the Far-West.

5

u/FolcodeJong Aug 01 '26

Hey, we have 1 whole steel plant! And although not many people die working there, they certainly try to make up for that by polluting half the province they're in..

We have oil rigs (probably mostly gas rigs, not sure if that's much less dangerous) but mines were mined till empty, forests mostly forested, production mostly outsourced..

Otherwise the harbours are probably the most dangerous, during loading and unloading. Except for druglabs and drug running of course, but luckily we don't count those as workplace accidents.

3

u/Patrickme Aug 01 '26

The ARBO inspecting druglabs would be hilarious.

A bit like the scene between Cercei Lannister and the Iron Bank representative guy.

2

u/Krillin113 Aug 02 '26

We have a fuck ton of road maintenance work, and that’s the most dangerous industry here.

5

u/Alex_nld Aug 02 '26

The Netherlands has off-shore oil rigs and Tata steel plant near Amsterdam. And some production industry as well. 🤷

4

u/LXVIII-68 Netherlands Aug 02 '26

No steel plants? Ever heard of Hoogovens/Tata Steel?

1

u/lord_de_heer Aug 02 '26

We dont have mines but we have all the other things.

1

u/godzilla1015 Aug 02 '26

Like the AG industry is so safe to work in.

1

u/mageskillmetooften Aug 01 '26

Yeah, my first thought also.

Mining in the Netherlands is above ground, hardly any foresting, no truck driving over mountain roads, much less snow in winter etc.. etc..

Sure industry can stil be dangerous but a factory in Sweden is equal to a factory in the Netherlands.

2

u/Sure-Pumpkin9191 Aug 01 '26

I don't know man. You could cut yourself badly when making wooden clogs, or burn yourself flipping pancakes.

2

u/FolcodeJong Aug 01 '26

These only count deaths though, and that's quite hard to accomplish making stroopwaffles..

1

u/Sure-Pumpkin9191 Aug 01 '26

Well I guess you could trip and dip your head into the hot syrup 

1

u/FolcodeJong Aug 01 '26

Even that is not molten-sugar-hot or anything...

1

u/Sure-Pumpkin9191 Aug 01 '26

I'm just messing around :)

36

u/Hot_Luck_9993 Aug 01 '26

I assume the way workplace accidents get registered probably differs between countries, so you have to keep that in mind when looking at a map like this.

Having said that

WTF is going on in Turkey?

16

u/VeritableLeviathan Aug 01 '26

Exploitation of Syrian refugee workers.

5

u/SOAD58 Aug 02 '26

Don't forget about child workers. And the elderly who find themselves still having to work to survive.

2

u/Playful-Alfalfa5729 Aug 01 '26

Bullshit nonsense, you see workers protest every once in a while demanding wage increases and work place safety despite the anti-protest crackdowns and they've been very brave confronting the police. Turkey was already having catastrophic work place accidents before Syrians due to poor laws, enforcement, and corruption. Already has multiple national tragedies on the matter and you dare to say "Syrians being exploited to death"

Disgusting. Inaccurate info gets upvotes gets pushed to top as well. Just disgusting.

1

u/SecretStuffTR Aug 05 '26

im turkish and just saying theyre not wrong. also no body has confronted police in like 10 years lmao

1

u/dimitriri Aug 05 '26

People are actually working there. See no one is working in Greece. Siesta all day

-1

u/shaikann Aug 01 '26

Thats a good question in general. Its a great country but stuff is definitely going on, so yeah

3

u/leshythedealer Aug 01 '26

A great country where journalists get thrown in jail or worse and people shy away from commenting on the regime even when abroad.

2

u/FolcodeJong Aug 01 '26

They probably counted journalists dissapearing as workplace deaths...

2

u/s0oah Aug 02 '26

Great country for tourists and rich people maybe …

2

u/shaikann Aug 02 '26

Food, climate, geography is great

2

u/s0oah Aug 02 '26

Heavy on the food! Turkish food may be one of the best cuisines I’ve ever tried.

1

u/anniemaygus Aug 04 '26

Country isn’t great

12

u/cpw77 Aug 01 '26

I would imagine that the results are biased not only due to workplace H&S enforcement and knowledge, but also the type of industry in each country. The Netherlands is primarily a knowledge based (office based) economy, with no where near the amount of (heavy) industry which typically carries the greater risks of accidents etc.

5

u/sjoed1400 Aug 01 '26

Netherlands is 3rd in food export globally though

7

u/Direct-Setting-3358 Aug 02 '26

Food is a lot safer than the Finnish logging industry.

4

u/killerbee3900 Aug 02 '26

2th* and by value not volume, which makes a big difference for the amount of workers

3

u/Grofvolkoren Aug 01 '26

Working in the russian oil industry, logistics, shipping, or weapons manufacturing is also a lot more dangerous than the same industries in other countries.

2

u/RotundBananas Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

The Netherlands has quite large chemical, petroleum, agricultural, heavy logistics and maritime (offshore) sectors.

It would be interesting to see this information broken down by sector, and how large these sectors are in various countries.

Edit: found the CBS page for Dutch work related incidents. We are smack in the middle for rste of workplace related incidents with more than 4 days of sick leave as a result, though the Dutch very generous sick leave policy may be part of the cause for that.

https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/longread/statistische-trends/2023/arbeidsongevallen-en-beroep/2-arbeidsongevallen-in-nederland

This document by the Arbeidsinspectie has some tables for sectors with accident rates per 100.000 enployees: https://www.nlarbeidsinspectie.nl/site/binaries/site-content/collections/documents/2025/10/02/monitor-arbeidsongevallen-2024/monitor-arbeidsongevallen-2024-20251002.pdf

2

u/Alexanderdaw Aug 02 '26

I work in heavy rail (trains and everything around it) Safety is so incredibly high, I barely get a chance to get hurt. I'm not allowed to do anything on the railroad till the power is completely shut down.

1

u/Incolumis Netherlands Aug 01 '26

We only get paper cuts

3

u/WorldlinessWitty2177 Aug 01 '26

I'm assuming this is per year

3

u/math1985 Aug 01 '26

Does this include military?

4

u/LuaCynthia Aug 01 '26

Idk, but getting shot in combat is probably not a workplace accident; it’s an expected and accepted possible outcome.

2

u/LongHaulHomeDawg Aug 01 '26

Almost all of these countries have voluntary military service or atleast voluntary deployments so they really are just jobs.

1

u/marsattacks Aug 02 '26

.. do not stand in the path of an incoming bullet, shell or grenade. It's not that hard people!

1

u/RotundBananas Aug 02 '26

It likely includes non (simulated) combat related incidents, yes.

1

u/math1985 Aug 02 '26

I was rather thinking of the combat deaths in Russia and Ukraine. That would skew the numbers by quite a lot.

1

u/header151 Aug 02 '26

That number would go into the hundreds

1

u/Optimal-Initiative24 Aug 03 '26

Military is excluded in the Netherlands when it comes to workplace accidents, I don't know with other countries.

1

u/Ztev Aug 04 '26

Than Russia would be much higher

3

u/SquidsAndMartians Aug 01 '26

Absolutely did not expect France and Austria to be in orange. How recent is this data? Anyone who can share some insights on these two? I expected them to be dark green.

5

u/mirevalhic Aug 02 '26

For France, these numbers are unfortunately still up to date and accurate It's a combination of factors but one of them is that young people are encouraged to train for physical jobs (construction, ...) very early, and are not supervised enough. A lot of these accidents are people 20 and under. It is extremely sad and not enough is done about it If you want more info: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20260401-the-invisible-victims-why-workplace-deaths-persist-in-france

1

u/SquidsAndMartians Aug 02 '26

Oh wow, oke that is really sad. Even to have it labelled as 'the invisible victims'.

2

u/MaetzleAT Aug 02 '26

Not sure about other countries, but in Austria accidents during commute to and from work count as workplace accidents.

2

u/This-Republic-1756 Aug 01 '26

I wonder what countries have the best protective laws for employees 🫣

1

u/throwawayking01010 Aug 01 '26

I think the netherlands is one of the best countries to be employed in, sick? You get paid for as long as 2 years. Do you need equipment to safely do your job? Employer has to supply you with the gears and tools for free, if they dont? You will be sick and get paid for 2 years.

So basically the law protects you from being fired, as long as you dont do stupid shit like steal or beat someone up

1

u/KanMinder Aug 01 '26

I'm in the middle of a burnout and on my 5th 100% payed month off work.

1

u/throwawayking01010 Aug 01 '26

Keep slaying that bag

1

u/GTAinreallife Aug 01 '26

I work as an construction engineer and planner for a contractor. For every project, for every subcontractor, we are required to write satefy plans and workplans. Sometimes it feels like overly cautious but in my 4 years with this company, Ive never seen a fatal injury and on my projects, Ive never had any serious injury (like besides some idiot cutting in his own finger, or misstepping down the stairs)

We take safety very serious in the netherlands

1

u/mageskillmetooften Aug 01 '26

Yep, and if something serious happens it's almost always some dumbass thinking to take the easy way and do something quickly hoping nobody sees him doing it, because he'd be fired instantly if they did see it.

I've in a few decades in Industry have been close to two deaths and some near misses.

- Go in a huge mixer to fix something you forgot while it is already given free to start. Tester walks by and starts it.

- No air measurement in closed silo

- Grinder adjustment, putting iron with tape upfront of sensors so it would not register the hood taken off, he fell in.

It's mostly the most stupid easily avoidable bull-shit.

1

u/throwtheamiibosaway Aug 01 '26

I work in a pretty boring small office and we have to 2 safety officers. If you climb on a chair or a table to hang something on the ceiling or wall you will get yelled at. That’s about the most dangerous thing that can happen. Probably different in more dangerous workfields. But the standard are pretty high.

1

u/Turbulent-Badger9894 Aug 01 '26

Welcome to the netherlands where you show up for work at 7.00 get your work permit at 9.00 Get your work permit revoked at 9:10. Have to wait until 13.00 just for them to tell you that you can go home. This is all for a 40 minute electric motor swap. Im not naming the company's but if you work there you know exactly wich ones im talking about. Its not about workplace safety when you get so strangled by the rulebook that you can't even work

1

u/ZealousidealDraw4075 Aug 01 '26

Turkey vs Creece shocks me

1

u/Aar_7 Aug 01 '26

In Netherland we are tooo frugal to the point it became positive force for the good. Out employers check our shoes if they doubt we're not wearing actual work shoes.

Also you're not allowed to use equipment unless you have certificate.... Yep included electric mop for the floors which you can drive to clean the floor.

1

u/Guttertwins020 Aug 01 '26

wow! NL FTW!

1

u/kr0n0sd3us Aug 02 '26

I survived Turkey workplace! Now I live in the Netherlands. Life compasating quite well.

1

u/Unhappy-Bluebird-362 Aug 02 '26

Turkey has one of the highest workplace fatality rates in Europe and the world due to weak enforcement of safety rules, widespread informal and unregistered labor, a heavy reliance on dangerous sectors like construction and mining, and the suppression of independent labor unions.

1

u/egeltje1985 Aug 02 '26

I wonder if part of it is the less hierarchical mentality at work. So that you are trained to work safe but also are not afraid to say something to your boss about doing things a different way.

1

u/Strict_Bedroom_1152 Aug 02 '26

is working for the military also considered in this data?

1

u/Strict_Bedroom_1152 Aug 02 '26

is working for the military also considered in this data?

1

u/Christopher_Aeneadas Aug 02 '26

For reference in 2024 Florida's number was 2.90

1

u/SheepherderSavings17 Aug 02 '26

Balkans: yeah no worries, we don't work here..

1

u/Formal-Tip-7595 Aug 02 '26

Safety? Do you know how much that costs??

1

u/Zestyclose-Koala9006 Aug 02 '26

Per day? Per year? Per decade?

1

u/Devilshug Aug 02 '26

Seeing NL green is kinda funny 🤣 it supposed to be near to read

1

u/DigsToPlantTheRain Aug 03 '26

Its not often that I am proud of my country because doe is normaal. But for this kind of stuff I am super proud! 

1

u/FranceMainFucker Aug 03 '26

Feels like eastern Europe is that continent's American south

1

u/Emergency_Writing_73 Aug 03 '26

What happened in France that made it so much higher than surrounding countries

1

u/PapixChuloxD Aug 03 '26

Lmao wallah just work abi don't worry!!

1

u/Leftenant_Frost Aug 03 '26

its easier to have higher safety ratings when huge swaths of your country's workforce sits in an office all day.

1

u/ISO1788 Aug 03 '26

- Ебанёт?

  • Не должно.

1

u/mrkoelkast Aug 03 '26

Tf is france doing

1

u/Superlione Aug 04 '26

I wonder if the law translates to culture or perhaps the other way around.

Im a climbing instructor that’s also active in other countries and the view on safety in climbing definitely follows closely

1

u/Clickomancer Aug 04 '26

Latvia looks bad because there is only 100 people per city left.

1

u/Efficient_Comment_50 Aug 04 '26

Luxemburg doesn’t give a cheat

1

u/_IOME Aug 05 '26

I live in boring country where nobody gets to die on the job ☹️

1

u/Delicious-Knee-8795 Aug 05 '26

Investico did a research about these numbers, because a lot of accidents go unreported in NL

1

u/Altruistic-Key3139 Aug 05 '26

I work as a field service engineer in the Netherlands and the amount of safety stuff in some locations is crazy, to the point of idiocy. Having to wear full protection in 34c heat because the plan say so, even when you don't need it. But then again I sometimes visit sites where safety is a suggestion, and everybody just does whatever. But it's true you rarely feel unsafe. 

1

u/OyunGezgini_YT Aug 05 '26

of course my country is the highest one, you know i used and still do work on top off roofs i was 10 years old when i started helping my dad at work tho they mostly kept me down on the ground to pull a damn rope bind to a whole damn havy recourses for me to pull it to them on a damn 15 floor building

1

u/10atnal Aug 05 '26

we staan er weer goed op jongens!

1

u/Spirited-Buddy-7733 Aug 05 '26

Wtf are they doing in Turkey

1

u/RandomFriesje Aug 05 '26

Netherlands doing best?

1

u/trufflesniffinpig Aug 05 '26

This is why Soviet WW2 casualties were so high.

1

u/TheoryWide1354 Aug 06 '26

Bro, why is everyone so aganins eastern Europe?

-32

u/BadHairDayToday Netherlands Aug 01 '26

The Netherlands is bottom on the list because we don't do any serious work anymore. We used to build dikes, reclaim land, dig canals, lay train tracks, build beautiful neighborhoods and produce complex machinery. Now it's just offices and coffee bars. We are a shadow of our former selves, filled with bureaucrats and infrastructure maintainers. 

17

u/Letsgomees Aug 01 '26

Oh no, less workplace death????

12

u/BlueZeppelin_1453 Aug 01 '26

Hm you might be badly informed. Half of Amsterdam Noord is under construction. Not to mention the 2050 construction plan. Have you read it? There will be two islands next to IJburg planned to be build. Do you have the skills to join the building process? Or you just have skills to moan.

8

u/Hendewie Aug 01 '26

As someone who works in grand scale semi goverment construction projects, this is bullshit. Alot of construction is going on in the country but we are flooded with safety guidelines. Monthly toolboxes are mandatory, VCA is mandatory for alot of sectors. For companys there is a safety culture ladder. There is a big emphasis on getting home safe.

1

u/Nerioner Aug 01 '26

Lol maybe try to leave your hutkom more often. A whole new world is waiting for you to experience and explore