In France, the number of recognised fatal workplace accidents among employees under the general social security scheme rose again in 2025 compared with the previous year. This emerges from the first 2025 figures published by Assurance maladie – Risques professionnels, France’s workplace accident insurer for employees under the general scheme (régime général). The number of recognised fatal workplace accidents reached the highest level recorded for this scheme since at least 2004.
What do the Assurance maladie figures show?
According to the first available data, a total of 783 fatal workplace accidents were recognised in 2025 among employees covered by the French régime général. This is an increase compared with 764 in 2024 and 759 in 2023. The number has thus risen for two consecutive years, with 2025 marking the highest point so far. Assurance maladie’s figures confirm the new record that the French trade union CGT had already announced in September.
Besides the fatal accidents, the first 2025 data also point to an increase in recognised occupational diseases and in the daily allowances (indemnités journalières) paid out for workplace accidents and occupational diseases. The source does not give specific figures for these two indicators.
Why is this figure relevant for HSE professionals?
These figures relate to the régime général, the general social security scheme for employees, and therefore do not cover all workers in France. An increase that unfolds over several years, rather than a one-off peak, is a signal for safety professionals and prevention advisers that further analysis is warranted: is this a temporary spike, or does it point to a structural deterioration of workplace safety in certain sectors? Because the source provides no breakdown by sector or cause, these figures do not yet make clear which industries are contributing most to the rise.
Context
At European level, Eurostat reported that 3,298 fatal workplace accidents were registered across the European Union in 2023, 12 more than in 2022 but 110 fewer than in 2013. In terms of incidence, this corresponds to 1.63 fatal accidents per 100,000 workers, against 1.66 in 2022; since 2016 this EU average has stayed below 2 per 100,000. These EU-wide figures lag two years behind the French figures in this article and refer to a different population, so a direct comparison is not possible. They do show, however, that EU incidence has remained relatively stable in recent years, while an increase is now being reported for the French general scheme.
For HSE professionals, the French trend illustrates the importance of assessing accident records over a series of years rather than on the basis of a single year. A multi-year increase can be a reason for organisations to re-examine their prevention policy, risk assessments and sector-specific approach.
Source: Workplace mortality: the new 2025 record confirmed by Assurance maladie, 14 October 2026
Additional research: Accidents at work claimed 3 298 lives in the EU in 2023
