Last year was the safest on record for Belgian temporary workers, with only one fatal workplace accident and two fatal road-related accidents reported, according to Prevention and Interim (PI), the safety service for the Belgian temporary employment sector.
In 2024, the Belgian temporary employment sector accounted for 196.3 million hours worked, equivalent to 100,678 full-time jobs, marking a slight decline of about 2% compared to 2023.
To assess safety, PI examines the frequency rate, which is the ratio of workplace accidents to hours worked. In the Walloon region, the frequency rate dropped to 39.31 from 40.86 in 2023 and 46.53 in 2022. However, in the Brussels region, there was a significant increase from 28 in 2023 to 32.17 in 2024. In Flanders, the frequency rate decreased to 32.81 in 2024 from 34.95 the previous year.
In 2024, there were two fatal road-related work accidents. Additionally, the single fatal workplace accident involved a traffic incident where a refuse collector was struck by crossing traffic while collecting rubbish. As such, road safety will be a focus for Prevention and Interim this year.
Temporary workers selected for positions with health risks undergo a medical examination by an occupational physician before starting their assignment. However, PI states that due to a severe shortage of occupational physicians, this process no longer aligns well with the actual conditions in the labour market.
