Investigation of serious work accidents
In the event of a serious work accident in your organisation, you must contact a risk prevention advisor to carry out a thorough and systematic investigation of the circumstances.
We will investigate the circumstances and suggest effective preventive measures. This will help to prevent such an accident from recurring and understand how it happened.
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Why do you need a serious work accident investigation?
- The investigation is mandatory after a serious work accident.
- You will understand how it happened.
- You can prevent similar accidents from occurring.
- You can prevent other accidents.
What is a serious work accident investigation?
After a thorough analysis of the work accident, Mensura will suggest effective preventive measures.
In total, Belgium recorded nearly 170,000 work accidents – both at work and on the way to and from work.
Source: Prevent
How does Mensura help in practice?
We analyse work accidents, incidents and near misses using methods such as the factor tree, domino model or fishbone model.
We propose specific preventive and corrective measures.
We create work accident fact files in accordance with legal requirements.
We map workplace accidents through statistics, including frequency and severity.
We help you with your declaration to the insurer and in dealings with the technical labour inspectorate and other relevant authorities.
We establish a clear procedure so you can respond quickly and effectively in the event of an accident.
We provide advice on preventing future accidents.
If you don’t have a level I or II risk prevention advisor or have fewer than 20 employees, we’ll conduct the assessment for a fixed fee.
If you do have an internal risk prevention advisor but would like to draw on our expertise, we’ll be happy to assist you at an hourly rate.
We received outstanding support from the prevention advisor during the investigation of the workplace accident. His expertise and the constructive way he works with us set him apart from other partners. We are therefore very satisfied with his guidance and support.
Harald Machiels
Kanigen Works Benelux
Frequently asked questions
When is a work accident considered by law to be serious?
A work accident is treated as serious if it is fatal or causes permanent injury, or if the injury was caused by a deviating event or an object involved (as described in Annexes I.6-1 and I.6.2 of the Codex, Book I, Title 6).
After a serious work accident, you must submit a circumstantial report to the competent regional service of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue – Well-being at Work Inspectorate within 10 calendar days. This report is prepared by your level I or II internal or external risk prevention advisor.
Do you always have to draw up a circumstantial report for every serious work accident?
Yes, with the exception of commuting accidents or accidents involving Belgian employees abroad.
Note: if the accident involves a foreign employee who has a serious work accident in Belgium, you are required to prepare a circumstantial report.
Who conducts the investigation into a serious work accident: the employer, the internal risk prevention advisor or an external service?
Only a level I or II internal advisor can conduct the investigation and prepare the circumstantial report.
If you don’t have an internal advisor with the appropriate training (for example at group C or D companies), your external service – Mensura, for example – is required to draw up the report.
Yes, our external psychosocial risk prevention advisors are available to support the victim’s colleagues.
A temporary worker has a serious accident. Who conducts the investigation?
As the employer who has hired the temporary worker, you are responsible for having the circumstantial report drawn up.
How long does a work accident investigation usually take?
The length of the investigation depends on several factors:
Severity of the accident
An investigation for temporary injuries usually takes less time than for permanent injuries or a fatal accident.
Complexity of the facts
Technically complex accidents such as an explosion or incidents involving electrical installations take more time.
Number of parties involved
The more parties (such as contractors, suppliers or subcontractors) that are involved, the longer the investigation usually takes.
Availability of witnesses and parties involved
If key figures are not immediately available, this can hold up the process.
Availability of evidence
The availability of photos, camera footage or reports can accelerate – or hinder – the investigation.
On average, an investigation where temporary injuries are involved takes about six to seven hours. The investigation takes place on site, while the report itself is prepared at the Mensura office.
In what language should the circumstantial report be written?
You should use the language of the place of business where the employee was working at the time of the accident – i.e. where they received instructions and had contact with their employer.
Note: a construction site or assignment at a client does not count as a place of business.
Language rules
In Flanders: Dutch
In Wallonia: French
In Brussels: Dutch or French, depending on the employer’s language
Example
An employee has a serious accident at a retail branch in Mons (FR), but the company’s headquarters are in Antwerp (NL).
Because the employee’s relationship is with the place of business in Mons – and they receive instructions there – you draw up the report in French, in line with the language of social dialogue at that location.
When is a work accident considered by law to be serious?
A work accident is treated as serious if it is fatal or causes permanent injury, or if the injury was caused by a deviating event or an object involved (as described in Annexes I.6-1 and I.6.2 of the Codex, Book I, Title 6).
After a serious work accident, you must submit a circumstantial report to the competent regional service of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue – Well-being at Work Inspectorate within 10 calendar days. This report is prepared by your level I or II internal or external risk prevention advisor.
Do you always have to draw up a circumstantial report for every serious work accident?
Yes, with the exception of commuting accidents or accidents involving Belgian employees abroad.
Note: if the accident involves a foreign employee who has a serious work accident in Belgium, you are required to prepare a circumstantial report.
Who conducts the investigation into a serious work accident: the employer, the internal risk prevention advisor or an external service?
Only a level I or II internal advisor can conduct the investigation and prepare the circumstantial report.
If you don’t have an internal advisor with the appropriate training (for example at group C or D companies), your external service – Mensura, for example – is required to draw up the report.
Yes, our external psychosocial risk prevention advisors are available to support the victim’s colleagues.
A temporary worker has a serious accident. Who conducts the investigation?
As the employer who has hired the temporary worker, you are responsible for having the circumstantial report drawn up.
How long does a work accident investigation usually take?
The length of the investigation depends on several factors:
Severity of the accident
An investigation for temporary injuries usually takes less time than for permanent injuries or a fatal accident.
Complexity of the facts
Technically complex accidents such as an explosion or incidents involving electrical installations take more time.
Number of parties involved
The more parties (such as contractors, suppliers or subcontractors) that are involved, the longer the investigation usually takes.
Availability of witnesses and parties involved
If key figures are not immediately available, this can hold up the process.
Availability of evidence
The availability of photos, camera footage or reports can accelerate – or hinder – the investigation.
On average, an investigation where temporary injuries are involved takes about six to seven hours. The investigation takes place on site, while the report itself is prepared at the Mensura office.
In what language should the circumstantial report be written?
You should use the language of the place of business where the employee was working at the time of the accident – i.e. where they received instructions and had contact with their employer.
Note: a construction site or assignment at a client does not count as a place of business.
Language rules
In Flanders: Dutch
In Wallonia: French
In Brussels: Dutch or French, depending on the employer’s language
Example
An employee has a serious accident at a retail branch in Mons (FR), but the company’s headquarters are in Antwerp (NL).
Because the employee’s relationship is with the place of business in Mons – and they receive instructions there – you draw up the report in French, in line with the language of social dialogue at that location.
Mensura helps you
Mensura offers a variety of products and services to boost well-being and health and safety in your organisation. From the legally required to the incredibly useful.