OSH statistics in Estonia

According to Statistical Office of Estonia (31.12.2006) there are:

• 65 000 employers

• 627 000 employees 

According to Health Care Board register (31.12.2006) there are:

• 49 occupational health services

• 94 certificated occupational physicians

• 29 certificated occupational nurces

• 15 hygienists or ergonomics

 Occupational accidents per 100 000 workers in Estonia

In Estonia occupational accidents and occupational diseases are reported by employers.
The number of accidents is clearly under-reported.

Number of workdays lost due to occupational accidents

The number of registered occupational accidents and workdays lost due to occupational accidents increased until 2002. This growth was caused by neglect of safety requirements, improved registration of accidents and an amendment to the law, according to which the benefit for temporary incapacity for work in the extent of 100% of average income is since 1999 paid for all occupational accidents (previously only for occupational accidents caused through the employer`s fault).
The decrease in the figures since 2003 does not reflect an improvement in the situation, but rather stems from amendments to the law, according to which accidents happening on the way to or from work are since 1 July no longer considered occupational accidents.

Fatal accidents per 100 000 workers in Estonia

Compared to the previous year, 2006 brought an increase in the number of fatal occupational accidents in Estonia. Statistical decrease in 2005 is explicable due to problem of Estonia - Estonia is so small, fatal accidents are generally not many and therefore dependence of statistics from single incident is major.

Occupational Diseases per 100 000 workers in Estonia

Diagnosis of occupational diseases is aggravated by several factors: proving the presence of links between the disease and the risk factors in the working environment is particularly problematic. This indicator is also influenced by the availability of occupational health care services (incl. the presence of an occupational health physician in the county)

Among the cases diagnosed in recent years, the number of vibration syndromes has decreased and the number of repetitive strain injuries (caused by handling loads, incorrect working posture, forced posture) has risen. While the vibration syndrome cases formed 39% of all diagnosed occupational diseases in 2000 and 23% in 2004, the proportion of repetitive strain injuries in the same years was 36% and 49% respectively.

 Evaluation of Working Environment Arrangement in Estonian Companies

(7277 companies were evaluated by Labour Inspection)

• 78% has enterprise safety manager
• 63% has safety representative of employees
• 30% of enterprises have contract with OH Service
• risk assessment is carried out in 39% of enterprises

The area of working environment is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The employer`s actions in organizing working environment related programmes at workplaces are one of the basic principles in ensuring safe and healthy working conditions. National enforcement of this act and the requirements prescribed in legislation based on this act is carried out by the Labour Inspectorate.

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