Accidents, in Lombardy an economic and social cost of 6 billion a year

In addition to being one of the most complex issues to deal with in companies, accidents at work are also an economic and social cost. In Lombardy alone, the figure is estimated at EUR 6 billion a year, according to the report 'Non-safety, how much does it cost me?' presented by Confcooperative Lavoro e Servizi Lombardia, on the occasion of the Assembly that elected Nino Aiello (HR manager of CSA Mantova, a company with more than 1,500 worker-members) as head of the federation. The report takes into consideration the period from March 2025 to February 2026, an increase of 2.4 per cent compared to the previous period, and in calculating the 6 billion it considers on the one hand direct costs, such as sickness absence cover and reduced income, and on the other hand indirect costs, such as business interruption, the use of overtime and family assistance. To these are added the intangible costs, related to image damage for the company and the psychological impact on workers.

Confcooperative Lavoro e Servizi Lombardia represents 274 cooperatives active in the facility management sector, with a total of 39,000 members, 12,271 employees, and a total turnover of approximately one billion euro. Aiello explained to the cooperatives that 'safety at work cannot be considered a cost, but an essential investment for the protection of people and the sustainability of companies. The data confirm how high the price, both economic and human, of accidents still is. As a cooperative world we are careful to promote a culture of prevention that starts with training, innovation and shared responsibility. Only by strengthening these elements can we build safer working environments'. This means rethinking actions such as plant maintenance, the adoption of preventive measures, certifications, and the use of collective and individual protective equipment, together with training, in terms of investment and not cost. The report estimates that every euro spent generates a return that is more than double.

Going back to the data, over the 12 months surveyed, in absolute terms the province of Milan confirmed its position as the one with the highest number of accidents, with 36,784 complaints, followed by Brescia (15,836) and Bergamo (12,664). However, the most significant percentage increases were recorded in the cities of Brescia (+5.5%) and Lodi (5.1%). Among the provinces that, on the other hand, show a decrease, Mantova is at the top, with a 3.9% decrease, followed by Cremona, which shows a 1.7% decrease. Among the sectors most at risk are the tertiary sector (28,666 complaints) and industry (26,979) as the most exposed to the risk of accidents. By age group, the highest number of complaints is recorded among workers between 50 and 59 years old (22,955) and among those under 20 (21,866). However, looking at the percentage changes compared to the previous year, the most significant increases were among the over 60s (+9.7%) and the under 20s (+5.2%).

Among fatal accidents, 148 work-related deaths were recorded in the 12 months under review, down 13% from the previous period. The peak, an increase, was recorded in Sondrio (+66%). The province with the best positive trend is Pavia with - 68% of cases. Milan, which recorded the highest number of fatal accidents with 45 cases, grew by +9%. No change for the provinces of Lecco and Mantua.