Multiple Fatal Accidents at Work in Italy: How They Occur and Causal Factors for Identifying Specific Prevention Measures

BACKGROUND: Workplace accidents represent a significant health problem for workers. In 2022, the EU recorded over 3,000 workplace deaths and nearly 3 million non-fatal accidents. The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of multiple fatal accidents in Italy in recent years, analyzing their occurrence patterns and causal factors to increase useful information for risk management. METHODS: The statistics come from the INAIL Database and the Infor.MO National Surveillance System, which collects detailed information on accident dynamics and uses a multifactorial model to analyze the causes of injuries. In this system, the in-depth analysis of multiple fatal accidents was conducted on a cluster of 181 events that occurred between 2008 and 2022. RESULTS: Data sources show that road accidents are a significant cause of multiple injuries. Other recurring accidents include collapses, fires, explosions, and asphyxiation in confined spaces. The construction and manufacturing sectors are the most affected. The main causes, highlighted particularly in the Infor.MO system, include poor worker training, inadequate workplace organization, and a lack of safety devices. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce workplace accidents, especially those with dramatic consequences such as multiple accidents, the importance of a stronger organizational safety culture is reiterated, in which training enables workers to understand risk analysis and gain greater awareness of hazards.