There have been fewer deaths related to people's workplace in 2021, but numbers differ between labour safety watchdog ITM and insurance association AAA’s records. Photo: Shutterstock

There have been fewer deaths related to people's workplace in 2021, but numbers differ between labour safety watchdog ITM and insurance association AAA’s records. Photo: Shutterstock

The number of work-related deaths in Luxembourg has decreased by more than half over a five-year span, according to labour safety watchdog ITM, a number not aligning with the AAA’s records.

The Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) counted 3 deadly work incidents in 2021, compared to 7 in 2017, 10 in 2018, 9 in 2019 and 4 in 2020, labour minister (LSAP) revealed in answer to a parliamentary question by deputy (Pirate Party).

Though the numbers have gone down significantly, the ministry aims to bring it close to zero by starting the second phase of its plan.

Meanwhile, the AAA--an association for insurance in case of incidents--counted 7 deadly incidents in the workplace for the same year. The difference in numbers is linked to how employers declare the cases to the two administrations. The AAA, for instance, counts deaths brought on by an ailment in its numbers. In 2020, the AAA counted 7 deadly incidents too, as well as 9 travel incidents and 3 work-related illnesses.

In addition, explains Engel, employers always notify the AAA of incidents for insurance reasons, but do not necessarily notify the ITM.

The government intends “to counter this with the creation of a single declaration” for employers to submit “on a state-secured electronic platform for these two administrations”, Engel confirmed. A date for this new procedure is yet to be revealed.