Occupational accident statistics: documentation of statistics

The statistics on occupational accidents contain statistical data on the occupational and commuting accidents that have occurred to wage and salary earners and own-account workers in agriculture, as well as other self-employed persons on an annual basis.

The data for the occupational accident statistics are created by combining register data formed in connection with occupational accident insurance policies and the data of Statistics Finland. Data on the occupational accidents of wage and salary earners are received from the Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions (TVL). The data on the occupational accidents of own-account workers in agriculture are based on data collected by the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution. The compiling of the statistics has also relied on the data of Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey and employment statistics.

Accidents at work for which insurance institutions have paid compensations are defined as occupational accidents in the statistics. The statistics primarily review occupational accidents that have occurred during the latest reference year, but various time series are also used to describe changes that have taken place in the situation regarding occupational accidents from the 1990s to the 2000s.

In terms of the occupational accidents of wage and salary earners, the statistics’ reference area is the wage and salary earners covered by the scope of the Finnish Accident Indemnity Act.

In terms of the accidents of own-account workers in agriculture, the statistics’ reference area is the own-account workers in agriculture covered by the scope of the Finnish act on farmers’ accident insurance.

Accident insurance for self-employed persons (excluding own-account workers in agriculture) is voluntary, due to which the reference area is self-employed persons covered by the scope of Finland’s Accident Indemnity Act, but the coverage is weaker than that of wage and salary earners and own-account workers in agriculture.

The statistics on occupational accidents have been compiled since 1898. The original statistics are available in the library located in the downstairs lobby of Statistics Finland in Helsinki THE STATISTICAL YEARBOOK OF FINLAND 1903 (ANNUAIRE STATISTIQUE DE FINLANDE 1903, pp. 269 to 273, ). Following the turn of the century, the occupational accident statistics have been influenced by many legislative amendments and changes to classifications which impact the comparability of the time series over the years, but the publication of data on occupational accidents continues.

The content of the occupational accident statistics has not remained unchanged over the years, because the time series of the occupational accident statistics also contain occupational diseases diagnosed from 1976 to 1994. Commuting accidents, however, have not been included in the figures of the time series; rather, data on them have been collected since 1992.

Occupational accidents which have occurred to self-employed persons have been included in the statistics only if the self-employed person in question has taken out a voluntary occupational accident insurance. Currently, around 41 to 42 per cent of self-employed persons have insured themselves for the event of an occupational accident (n = 125,000). Thus, the number of accidents also depicts the popularity of insurance among self-employed persons. Presumably, self-employed persons working in high-risk industries are more likely to insure themselves than those working in industries in which the risk of accidents is smaller. The number of occupational accidents that have occurred to self-employed persons ranged between 2,000 and 4,000 cases a year from 1995 to 2016.

The occupational accident statistics have been compiled by Statistics Finland from 1992 onwards. Following the statistical reform carried out in 2007, the time series concerning the occupational accidents of wage and salary earners has been updated reliably up to 1996. Data on the occupational accidents of own-account workers in agriculture can be presented as of 2000.

Occupational accident insurance is handled in Finland through private insurance companies. The Workers' Compensation Center (TVK) is the central body of statutory accident insurance, the principal task of which is to coordinate the enforcement of statutory accident insurance. In Finland, an insurance company offering statutory accident insurance must be a member of TVK.

For work done for the employer, the employer must take out an obligatory accident insurance policy in accordance with the Accident Insurance Act (608/1948) at an insurance company licensed to issue accident insurance policies. However, the employer’s obligation to take out insurance does not begin until the work done for the employer during a calendar year exceeds 12 days. The obligation to take out insurance does not concern state officials or individuals with an employment relationship with the state. However, the state must pay them compensation from state resources for occupational accidents and occupational diseases in accordance with the Accident Insurance Act

As for accidents involving wage and salary earners, the statistical coverage is good, since all employees are in practice covered by the accident compensation. Accident reporting is not neglected, since reporting accidents is financially beneficial to the employer. The occupational accidents of uninsured employers are also included in the data; in these cases, TVK is responsible for handling the cases and paying the compensation.

The insurance is optional for self-employed persons except for farmers, who must take out a mandatory insurance policy at the Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution (MELA) if the size of the farm exceeds five hectares. Fishermen and reindeer farmers must also take out an insurance policy at the MELA. For this reason, all occupational accidents involving self-employed persons mentioned above are comprehensively included in the statistics. The MELA has a national network of agents who transmit accident information to the MELA. As for other self-employed persons, they may take out optional insurance policies. Approximately 41 to 42 per cent of self-employed persons other than farmers have taken out an optional accident insurance policy.

In 2018, accident data were collected according to the ESAW variables for the fifteenth time. Compared with the previous years, the distributions seem uniform and reasonable. In addition, the variables describing the chain of events leading to an accident are similar. With increasing experience, however, adjustments may be made to the recording instructions. Over the years to come, this may have some effect on the results related to the ESAW variables that were obtained from the data.

Information on occupational accidents is collected by using accident report forms. Accident reporting is usually not neglected, since fulfilling the reporting obligation is financially beneficial to the employer. The MELA data are probably more reliable than those of TVK, since the employees recording the statistics are also in charge of the compensation procedures. The reliability of the data is also improved by the fact that the MELA agents act as intermediaries in filling in and submitting compensation applications.

The data in the occupational accident statistics are completed with a delay of “n+1 years”, where n refers to the statistical year. For example, the data on occupational accidents which occurred in 2021 were completed at the beginning of 2023. However, the data are not final at the completion: due to compensation procedures, they will be complemented with a few cases even after having been submitted to Statistics Finland. Given that the cut-off point is the same every year, statistical years are comparable, unless other, e.g. legislative changes affecting the compensation practices have occurred.

The relatively long delay is unavoidable due to the final information on consequences. Information on consequences means the duration of disability due to an injury or the number of days absent from work. The long delay ensures sufficient reliability of the data.

The concepts and definitions used in the survey comply with the regulations of the European Union on official statistics, so the data of the statistics are internationally comparable and cover the whole of Finland. 

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union (see https://ec.europa.eu), releases data on occupational accidents (European Statistics on Accidents at Work, ESAW) that have occurred in Member States on an annual basis and the data of the occupational accident statistics are based on the definitions and rules of ESAW, as well as on national decrees and definitions.

Data in accordance with a joint list of variables began to be collected in 2003, following Eurostat’s reform of the Statistics on Accidents at Work.

The statistical data published by the Workers' Compensation Center (TVK) and Statistics Finland are based on the same source data, but the principles for compiling the statistics differ.  Since 2005, both Statistics Finland and TVK have defined an occupational accident as a disability of at least four days. This is the definition used in the Eurostat’s Statistics on Accidents at Work. The statistics published by TVK do not include any accidents involving self-employed persons.

The time series of the occupational accident statistics are from 1996 onwards in terms of wage and salary earners and from 2000 onwards in terms of own-account workers in agriculture. The appendix tables to the annual publication contain data from 1975 onwards. 

The statistics on occupational accidents have been compiled since 1898. The original statistics are available in the library located in the library at the entrance of Statistics Finland in Helsinki (ANNUAIRE STATISTIQUE DE FINLANDE 1903, pp. 269–273, http://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/67177/stv 1903.pdf?sequence=1 ). Following the turn of the century, the occupational accident statistics have been influenced by many legislative amendments and changes to classifications which impact the comparability of the time series over the years, but the publication of data on occupational accidents continues.

The content of the occupational accident statistics has not remained unchanged over the years, because the time series of the occupational accident statistics also contain occupational diseases diagnosed from 1976 to 1994. Commuting accidents, however, have not been included in the figures of the time series; rather, data on them have been collected since 1992.

The Workers’ Compensation Center (TVK)

TVK annually publishes its own statistics on occupational accidents and diseases for which compensation has been paid. The statistics are available in print and online (see http://www.tvk.fi ). In addition, TVK publishes on its website cross-sectional statistics that compare two time periods. In these statistics, the accidents at work figures are not final. Rather, the statistics can be used to examine the trend in the number of accidents. The statistical data published by TVK and Statistics Finland are based on the same source data, but the principles for compiling the statistics differ. Since 2005, both Statistics Finland and TVK have defined an occupational accident as a disability of at least four days. This is the definition used in the Eurostat’s Statistics on Accidents at Work. The statistics published by TVK do not include any accidents involving self-employed persons. Both TVK and Statistics Finland have a separate category for the municipal sector (in the classifications used by Statistics Finland, this is called the local government sector). TVK also publishes survey reports on accidents at work leading to death, which are based on the fatal workplace accident investigation system (TOT).

The Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution

The Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution publishes its own statistics on occupational accidents involving farmers (own-account workers in agriculture; see http://www.mela.fi ).

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has maintained a register of work-related diseases (formerly the occupational diseases register) since 1964 (see http://www.ttl.fi ). The register includes information on new occupational diseases reported to insurance companies and on new occupational diseases reported to labour protection authorities by physicians, and on other work-related pathological conditions. The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health publishes a set of statistics on diagnosed occupational diseases on annual basis. The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health also releases occupational accident statistics which include local government sector occupational accidents according to occupation.

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union (see https://ec.europa.eu), releases data on occupational accidents that have occurred in Member States on an annual basis (European Statistics on Accidents at Work, ESAW).

Others

The Labour Protection Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (see http://stm.fi ) maintains an accident report register which contains data on occupational accidents leading to severe injuries or death from 1982 onwards. The documents report on the course of the accident, the direct and indirect reasons for the accident and the possibility of preventing similar accidents in the future. Since 1985, investigated work and workplace accidents leading to death have been included in the register as a result of an agreement between the Workers’ Compensation Center and the central labour market organisations.

Information on occupational accidents involving forest holders and wage and salary earners is available in the Statistical Yearbook of Forestry published by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke; see https://www.luke.fi).

The data of the occupational accident statistics are internally coherent within a particular set of data and adjustable to the data provided by the following data producers:

The Workers’ Compensation Center (TVK) http://www.tvk.fi 

The Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution  http://www.mela.fi

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health  http://www.ttl.fi

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, releases data on occupational accidents that have occurred in Member States on an annual basis (European Statistics on Accidents at Work, ESAW).

The Labour Protection Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health http://stm.fi.

Information on occupational accidents involving forest holders and wage and salary earners is available in The Statistical Yearbook of Forestry published by the  Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

The data set is based on administrative register data received from various insurance companies:

The Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution produces individual-level total data, which include information on accidents that have occurred to the insured who hold an insurance policy with the institution. The data include all accidents that have occurred between 1 January and 31 December for which the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution has paid compensation.

The accident data of wage and salary earners, as well as self-employed persons (excluding own-account workers in agriculture), are based on data received from the Workers' Compensation Center. The observation unit in these data is an individual accident. The data include all accidents that have occurred between 1 January and 31 December for which the insurance companies have paid compensation. The data include demographic details of the injured (age, sex), as well as diverse information on the circumstances, cause and consequences of the accident.

The data on the occupational accidents of wage and salary earners, as well as self-employed persons (excluding own-account workers in agriculture), are collected from accident report forms used by employers to report occupational accidents to insurance companies. 

The data on accidents involving own-account workers in agriculture is based on the comprehensive individual-level total data provided to Statistics Finland by the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution. These data contain information on all occupational accidents for which the MELA has paid compensation. 

While the information is supplemented during the compensation procedures, final information cannot be expected during the compilation of the statistics. The statistical data (mainly the period of disability) are updated almost 1.5 years after the end of the year following the accident.

The data on own-account workers in agriculture, wage and salary earners and self-employed persons are handled as separate data.

The data on own-account workers in agriculture are received in Excel file format, due to which the file is converted into the format of the SAS analysis application. The technical names of the variables and the format of the observation values (numerical/txt, etc.) are rendered coherent with earlier time series data. The necessary new variables and classifications are derived from the variables. The necessary regional classifications are added to the data with the help of a municipality code.

The data on wage and salary earners as well as self-employed persons are received from the Workers' Compensation Center (TVK) as ready SAS data. The data are edited in the same manner as the data of own-account workers in agriculture. In addition to regional classification, the industrial classification data for the year in question and the number of hours worked by wage and salary earners are added to the data on wage and salary earners as well as self-employed persons from the data of the Labour Force Survey.

The data received from the Workers’ Compensation Center and the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution are checked to ensure that their observation values are within permitted limits. The data are controlled for logic and any deviations are investigated. The data are compared to the data of previous years and to the data published by the Workers’ Compensation Center and the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution.

Eurostat and the ILO carry out their own validation for the data they receive on the occupational accident statistics.

The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics. 

Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.  

Further information: Statistical legislation 

The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable. 

Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi) 

The data are subject to the legislation concerning statistical confidentiality and the confidentiality of actual data processing. Data protection guidelines are not mentioned separately in the actual work instructions applicable to the statistics, because the individual processing the data is expected to already be familiar with the data protection practices and guidelines.

Data are handled only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. The statistics are formed by processing a large number of different statistics and other data sources. The aggregation of data in the process, the compilation time evaluation related to data quality, detailed prioritisation of sources and measures related to total level balancing produce an end result that does not enable identification of individual data producers.

All employees participating in the compiling of the statistics have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.

Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service. 

Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland 

Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.   

In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases. 

Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.   

Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service. 

Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions. 

The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before. 

Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data. 

The quality of the data in the occupational accident statistics is assessed in several stages of the statistical process.

Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice. 

Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)

Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published. 

Further information: Publication principles for statistics 

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