Workplace accidents, occupational diseases, commuting accidents: key 2024 data decoded for HSE professionals with concrete action priorities.
2024 Key Figures
2024 | vs 2023 | |
Workplace accidents | 549,614 | ▼ −1.1% |
Deaths from workplace accidents | 764 | ▲ +5 — record high |
Occupational diseases | 50,598 | ▲ +6.7% |
Commuting accidents | 94,654 | ▲ +0.7% |
Total deaths | 1,297 | ▲ +10 |
Lost working days | 78 million | ≈ 334,000 FTE |
Daily allowances | €4.9 Bn | ▲ +10.8% — top expenditure item |
Fewer accidents, but more deaths and longer absences. Risks are becoming more concentrated and more severe.
Causes of Workplace Accidents
Manual handling — 50% of workplace accidents The leading cause, stable year on year. It also feeds into MSDs: 90% of occupational diseases are directly linked to it. Tackling manual handling means tackling two risks at once. → Gestures & Postures Workshop
Falls — 27% of workplace accidents (ground level 15% + height 12%) — on the rise Falls from height are among the leading causes of fatal accidents. The key lever: collective vigilance and risk assessment before taking action. → Think Before You Act Workshop · Shared Vigilance Workshop
Hand tools — 8% of workplace accidents — growing Hand injuries: frequent, disabling, and underestimated. → Hand Safety Workshop
Sudden illness — 60% of workplace accident deaths The least-known statistic. Of the 764 workplace accident deaths in 2024, more than 6 in 10 were caused by sudden illness — not a conventional accident. Knowing how to respond can save a life. → Life-Saving Gestures Workshop
New hires — 20% of deaths in the first year in post For workers under 25: more than 50% of deaths occur during this same period. Safety onboarding is a critical issue, not a formality. → Neuroscience & Risk Workshop
Commuting Accidents
Total | 94,654 (+0.7%) |
Deaths | 318, of which 222 road-related (70%) |
Loss of vehicle control | 56% of circumstances |
Bicycles / e-scooters | 7.6% of incidents — ×2 since 2017 |
Commuting risk is evolving. New mobility modes are creating blind spots in prevention policies. → Road Risk – Soft Mobility Workshop
Occupational Diseases
50,598 recognised cases — the first time the 50,000 threshold has been crossed in ten years.
Type | Trend |
MSDs | 90% of occupational diseases · +6.6% |
Asbestos-related conditions | +8.5% |
Psychological disorders | +9% · ×2 since 2020 |
This is the strongest signal in the 2024 report, and the one HR Directors must face head-on. Recognised occupational psychological disorders reached 1,805 cases in 2024 (+9%). Their number has doubled since 2020.
MSDs are not just a posture problem. Workload, management pressure, and organisational structure are just as determining as physical factors. → Stress & Decision-Making Workshop · Sleep & Recovery Workshop
Most Affected Sectors
Sector | Workplace accident deaths | Trend |
Transport, energy, communications | 178 | ▲ +13% |
Construction | 146 | ▼ −2% |
Food industry | — | ▲ +20% |
In these sectors, workplace accidents are more frequently linked to psychosocial distress than elsewhere — a warning signal for HR Directors in these industries.
Conclusion
The 2024 report figures are clear: physical risks are not disappearing — they are concentrating. Manual handling, falls, sudden illness, new hires — each identified cause is a concrete prevention opportunity. C2D Prévention works with you to design workshops and safety days tailored to your operational challenges, your sectors, and your teams. Let’s talk about your Safety Day →
Sources :
Assurance Maladie – 2024 Annual AT/MP Report: https://www.assurance-maladie.ameli.fr/etudes-et-donnees/2024-rapport-annuel-assurance-maladie-risques-professionnels
Vie-publique.fr: https://www.vie-publique.fr/en-bref/301137-accidents-du-travail-mortels-764-deces-en-2024
INRS – Psychosocial Risks: https://www.inrs.fr/risques/psychosociaux/accidents-travail-maladies-professionnelles.html
Ministry of Labour – Psychosocial Risk Prevention: https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/la-prevention-des-risques-psychosociaux-rps
ANDRH – Mental Health First Aid: https://www.andrh.fr/article/se-former-aux-premiers-secours-en-sante-mentale-pssm