Corona consequences: Impact on occupational safety | tagesschau.de

Corona had a significant impact on the number of work accidents and work-related illnesses in 2020. This is shown by a new report on occupational safety that the Federal Cabinet has approved.

The year 2020 was characterized by home office, short-time work and temporary company closings for those in employment. This has had a significant impact on the number of accidents, according to the new report “Safety and Health at Work”, which the Federal Cabinet passed today.

Heil speaks of “light and shadow”

In 2020 there were a good twelve percent fewer reportable accidents at work than in the previous year. A total of around 820,000 cases have been reported. Since many people worked from home, there were significantly fewer accidents on the way to or from work in 2020 than in 2019. In total, there were around 34,000 fewer.

“This Corona period has of course completely re-shaped occupational safety and people’s health. With light and shadow,” said Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil from the SPD ARD capital studio. The decrease in accidents at work is gratifying. “On the other hand, there were infections and thus more occupational diseases from Corona.”

More recognized occupational diseases

However, the new report on occupational safety also shows: In the Corona year 2020 there was a significant increase in recognized occupational disease cases. For example, employees can report a corona infection as an occupational disease under certain conditions – for example if the person concerned works in the health care or welfare sector. Around 39,500 cases of occupational disease were recognized in 2020. That means an increase of almost 94 percent.

“Corona illuminates the topic of occupational safety, with all its strengths and weaknesses,” said Heil. “This is a call to continue working on the topic and to stay tuned.” The experience from the Corona crisis in relation to occupational safety and health must also be used after the pandemic, according to the SPD politician. With regard to home office, for example, it has been shown that much more is possible in many professions and activities than previously thought.