More and more accidents at work. Latest data revealed

Data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) show that in the first half of this year, 33,081 people were injured in accidents at work. This is an increase of 7.9%. compared to the first half of 2025.

The number of accidents at work is increasing. Employers violate health and safety regulations?

The accident rate increased annually from 2.23 to 2.41 injured persons per 1,000 people. working. Experts emphasize that this does not mean that Polish employers massively violate occupational health and safety regulations. – However, it should prompt us to ask whether the security measures used still correspond to the real threats, especially when the trend is visible not only in the statistics of the Central Statistical Office, but also in the case of a specific employer. – says Michał Kibil, managing partner at the DGTL law firm, in an interview with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Repeated accidents may signal irregularities in work organization, security or supervision, and consequently increase the risk of employer liability. – This does not mean, however, that the increase in the number of events alone determines guilt. What matters are their causes and whether the employer properly implemented occupational health and safety obligations. Depending on the circumstances, the consequences may include misdemeanor, civil and, in more serious cases, criminal liability. The accident rate of a specific employer may also affect the amount of its accident insurance premium – notes the expert.

Penalties too low?

Is the increase in the number of accidents the result of the penalties for non-compliance with health and safety regulations being too low? – Violation of health and safety regulations or rules is an offense punishable by a fine of PLN 2,000. up to 60 thousand zloty. For a small entrepreneur, such a fine may be severe, while in the case of a large organization employing hundreds or thousands of people, its maximum amount may be disproportionate to both the scale of the business and the savings achieved by limiting expenses on security, training or appropriate staffing – says Magdalena Rycak, legal advisor from Rycak Labor and HR Law Firm.

According to the expert, a greater differentiation of sanctions should be considered, taking into account the size of the enterprise, the scale of the violation, the number of exposed employees, the repeatability of the violations and whether the employer ignored previous accidents, recommendations of the occupational health and safety service or orders of the labor inspector. Moreover, simply increasing fines is not enough. – Much more important are the inevitability and speed of response of supervisory authorities, especially the National Labor Inspectorate, and the possibility of applying measures that will force the employer to immediately remove the threat – explains the newspaper’s interlocutor.

Mateusz Zwierzchowski, legal advisor at the Graś i Wspólnicy Law Firm, reminds that at the beginning of July this year, sanctions for violations of health and safety regulations were increased – both the maximum amount of fine that can be imposed by the court and the amount of fine that can be imposed by the National Labor Inspectorate inspector. – This change shows that the legislator recognizes the need to strengthen sanctions and their preventive function. Only practice will show whether higher penalties will be an effective incentive for employers to invest in occupational safety, or whether it will be necessary to supplement the system with other instruments supporting preventive activities – says Zwierzchowski.