The INAIL data on accident and occupational disease trends, the Institute’s activities in research, prevention, rehabilitation, and investments, as well as its economic results, were presented in Rome.
INAIL President Franco Bettoni, during his introductory speech, emphasized how, despite the passing years, efforts to combat work-related accidents and injuries are still not enough, urging institutions and social partners to establish a real “safety pact”.
The heavy toll of work-related accidents shows us that we still aren’t doing enough. It’s not enough to be outraged; we must act.
The recipe has been the same for years:
- Engage national prevention system stakeholders
- Strengthen controls
- Promote greater awareness among workers and companies
- Enhance training and information to build a safety culture
Below, we summarize the key points from INAIL’s annual report.
Work Accidents
The data concerning work injury reports in 2020 shows an overall decrease in cases compared to the previous year (-11.4% compared to 2019). However, the negative figure comes from the number of fatalities, which increased by +27.6% compared to 2019.
It must be noted that both the number of injuries and fatalities were significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which accounted for a quarter of all injuries and a third of all deaths.
Occupational Diseases
There was a decline in the number of occupational disease reports, with approximately 45,000 reports (-26.6% compared to 2019).
Support for Workers
In terms of figures, in 2020, 6.4 million healthcare services were provided, with 86% requested due to work-related injuries, while the remaining requests concerned occupational diseases.
One of the most significant interventions in 2020, as reported by Bettoni, was the innovative multi-axial rehabilitation project for patients, designed to address specific therapeutic needs post Covid-19, which may include respiratory, cardiological, musculoskeletal, and neurological aspects. Regional notices published in March aimed to establish agreements with healthcare facilities nationwide to ensure that workers with long-term post-Covid effects receive the necessary assistance promptly.
Other notable points include the allocation of 1.3 million euros for the reintegration and employment integration of workers with disabilities and the improvement of contractual conditions for riders, ensuring better health and safety protections.
Support for Companies
The applications submitted by companies for a reduction in the tariff rate for risk reduction interventions in workplaces amounted to 30,900, covering interventions carried out in 2019, with a decrease in premiums for virtuous companies of about 140 million euros.
Due to the uncertain state of the entire production system, it became essential for INAIL to continue its commitment to co-financing (65% of the total cost) safety projects presented by companies through the Isi incentives.
Research
The research activities promoted by INAIL were inevitably affected by the pandemic. However, the Institute actively participated in the work of the Technical-Scientific Committee established at the Civil Protection Department, providing technical support, and continued to strengthen its network of collaborations with universities, public research bodies, Irccs, research centers, associations, and national and international scientific organizations, as well as the Italian Institute of Technology.
Future Prospects and Commitments
The four key goals for the future are:
- Extend insurance coverage to the more than three million workers who are not yet entitled to it
- Improve economic benefits for injured workers and those suffering from occupational diseases
- Allocate more resources for strengthening prevention
- Refine the Institute’s reporting tools