Definition: Incidence rate

Category: Social statistics

The incidence rate is defined as the number of accidents at work per 100 000 persons in employment. It can be calculated for Europe, a Member State, or any sub-population breakdown according to one or more of the variables above characterising the victim of the accident (economic activity, age, etc.). It can be established for all accidents or breakdowns according to one or more of the variables above characterising the accident (part of body injured, etc.).  Separate incidence rates are calculated for fatal accidents and accidents leading to more than 3 days' absence.

It is a fact that the frequency of work accidents is much higher in some branches compared to others. For this reason the industrial structure of a country will influence its total frequency of work accidents depending on the share of high risk sectors. To correct for this effect a "standardised" number of accidents at work per 100 000 persons in employment is calculated per Member State by giving each branch the same weight at national level as in the European Union total ("standardised" incidence rate). This standardisation method is used in current ESAW publications on accidents at work. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/ESAW_2001_EN.pdf