EP Pushes New Workplace Safety Drive Amid Rising Accident Concerns
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The European Parliament has approved a major new initiative aimed at reducing workplace accidents and strengthening worker protection across the European Union, as concerns continue to grow over fatalities and injuries in high-risk sectors such as construction and manufacturing.
In a vote held during a plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs backed a resolution calling for 8 August to be officially recognised as the European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers.
The date was chosen to commemorate the 1956 Marcinelle mining disaster in Belgium, where 262 miners lost their lives in one of Europe’s worst industrial tragedies. Parliament said the annual observance would serve both as a memorial to victims and as a platform to promote stronger workplace prevention and safety measures throughout the EU.
MEPs said the initiative should be accompanied by practical awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces and public institutions, with a particular focus on improving occupational safety culture and reducing preventable accidents. The resolution also reflects growing concern within EU institutions about evolving workplace risks linked to technology, climate change and increasingly demanding working conditions. Parliament urged the European Commission to assess the impact of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management systems on workers’ health and safety, particularly for employees working through digital labour platforms.
The renewed focus on workplace safety comes as recent figures continue to show high accident rates across Europe. According to EU data referenced during the parliamentary discussions, 3,298 fatal workplace accidents were recorded across the bloc in 2023, alongside approximately 2.8 million non-fatal accidents resulting in at least four days away from work. Construction, transport, agriculture and manufacturing remain among the sectors with the highest risks.
In Malta, NSO data shows that nine people died in workplace accidents in 2025, with five of those fatalities occurring between July and December. The figure marked the highest annual total recorded since 2022. A total of 1,073 non-fatal workplace accidents were also reported during the second half of the year.
Construction workers accounted for the largest share of non-fatal workplace accidents, followed by employees in the manufacturing sector. Many of the reported injuries involved the back and spine, while wounds, sprains and strains were among the most common injuries recorded, the NSO said.
According to MEPs, workers whose tasks and performance are monitored or directed through AI-based systems may face increased pressure due to intensified work rhythms and intrusive surveillance practices. Parliament warned that technological changes must not come at the expense of worker wellbeing.
Climate-related workplace risks were also highlighted during the debate. MEPs called on the Commission to recognise heat stress, extreme weather events and air pollution as major occupational hazards and to introduce stronger preventive protections for workers exposed to such conditions.
