[Chapter 3] Section 1

1.Industrial accident occurrence situation

Over the long term, industrial accidents have been decreasing, but they have remained high for the past 10 years. In 2017, the number of casualties resulting in four or more days of absence from work reached 120,460 across all industries (up from 117,910 in 2016), with 978 fatalities (up from 928 in 2016).

From 2017 Industrial Accident Statistics (January 1 to December 31)

	Casualty accidents	Fatal accidents	Number of fatalities due falls/tumbling
All industries	120,460	978	978
Manufacturing industry	26,674	160	28
Construction industry	15,129	323	135

2. Fall/tumbling accidents

We are working to prevent fall/tumbling accidents by, for example, revising regulations such as those relating to scaffolding, etc. As a recent trend, the use of fall arrest equipment at places over 2 meters in height has become established, but there are an increasing number of casualty accidents where the equipment used and wearing methods are not appropriate. Therefore, in some cases these accidents lead to death or serious aftereffects such as internal organ rupture or spinal injuries due to the shock experienced during a fall.

This is the main reason why full harness fall arrest equipment has come into use.