Statistics

In OSH-related statistics the most important ones are the data of occupational accidents and illnesses.

The national data of occupational accidents are gathered and registered by the OMMF (Hungarian Labour Inspectorate), while those on occupational illnesses by the ÁNTSZ

The general national statistics are made by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office:

Main tasks of the HCSO:

Designing and conducting surveys, recording, - proccessing and storing data, data analyses- and dissemination, protection of individual data.
The Office provides data for the parliament and public administration, social organizations, local authorities, scientific bodies, economic organizations, the general public and the media as well as for international organizations and users abroad. Official data regarding the socio-economic situation as well as the changes in the population of the country are published by the HCSO.

In the yearbooks and statistics of the Office also the data of the occupational accidents can be found.

• Statistics

Statistics from the Hungarian National Program of Occupational Safety and Health

1. Occupational accident statistics

a) Occupational accident figures have shown an apparently favourable trend in the last decade. From the mid-eighties, the absolute number of registered occupational accidents has been steadily decreasing. There were more than 80 thousand accidents at work in 1989 but only 28,668 in 1998. The reduction of high-risk work in heavy industry, the advent of unemployment (in other words, the reduction of the number of jobs and people in jobs) as well as the decrease of the intensity of production in many places, all contributed to the decrease of accidents. Data from the recent years (for employers inspected by OMMF) are shown below:

At the same time, workplace inspections have shown a deterioration of safety at work.

In the year 1998, for the first time in a decade, the steady decrease of the number of accidents stopped. This appears to indicate that the quickening of the economy will bring an increase in workplace hazards. The number of occupational accidents per 1000 people has not shown a significant change.

b) The trend of fatal occupational accidents has been different: while the absolute numbers, except for 1998, have decreased, the fatality rate has remained largely steady since 1991.

c) There is a need for caution if one wants to use accident statistics to judge the situation of occupational safety and health. OMMF conducted a nation-wide inspection campaign in 1995 to examine whether employers actually report occupational accidents as required. The results of that survey are still valid to-day: at least 25% of work accidents have not been reported. Consequently, the apparent decrease in the number of accidents is partly due to an increase in underreporting. One of the causes of underreporting is the heavy presence of illegal economy, but there are not even estimates for accidents at illicit work, except for a few serious or fatal ones. Self-employed people, i.e. one-person enterprises with no employees are not covered by occupational safety and health regulations at the present time, and consequently there is no information available about their accidents at work. In the area within the competence of the Mining Authority, however, underreporting of occupational accidents is not typical.

2. Trends in occupational diseases and increased exposures

Trends in occupational diseases and increased exposures can be considered as indicators of the effects of workplace hazards.

The number of reported occupational diseases per 10,000 employees was the following in 1996-1998:

The distribution of reported diseases per 10,000 employees among the most important industrial branches was the following:

No comparison is possible between these figures and the rates registered in the EU Member States because of the differences despite the similarity of the list of occupational diseases since 1996 in the definition of diseases, in the system of examination and approval of claims following notification, and in compensation.

From among the occupational diseases frequently notified in Hungary, hearing impairment caused by noise is also the first on the list in the EU Member States, followed by infectious diseases and skin diseases of occupational origin; on the other hand, occupational asthma and musculo-skeletal diseases attributable to ergonomic factors are rarely notified in Hungary, probably because neither of these diseases (disease groups) are compensated.

Some occupational diseases can be effectively prevented through monitoring increased exposures. Increased exposure is not a disease yet, just an indication of increased risk. If the employer takes measures at this stage, occupational diseases can be avoided. Hungary was the first country in the world to set up a legal requirement in 1981 for the notification of increased exposures.

Notified cases of increased exposure per 10,000 employees were the following:

No comparison is possible between these data and the situation in the EU Member States because the requirement of Directive 98/24/EU for a similar notification system will come into effect only in 2002.