Work-related accidents are more frequent among workers on short contracts or who work via jobs agencies than those with a permanent job, labour inspectors say.

The more solid the relationship between worker and employer, the safer the working conditions, the labour inspectorate said in its annual report.

“A long-term and good working relationship also brings a greater financial responsibility on the part of the employer,” chief inspector Rits de Boer said. Employers, he said, are more inclined to invest in work safety, for instance by giving more instructions and increasing supervision.

Workers on a fixed contract are also more committed to the work they are doing and feel more confident about reporting unsafe situations, he said.

Of the 3,200 people who were involved in a workplace accident last year, 52 died as a result. Most accidents involved the construction sector.

The inspectorate found that a relatively large number of the victims were on temporary contracts via jobs agencies who were working without the proper tools, and had accidents because of a lack of supervision.

The inspectorate said the total number of accidents is probably much higher. Some 50% to 70% of accidents are never reported, particularly “if there is no direct or long-term responsibility for the worker”, the report said.

The inspectors said in an earlier report that foreign workers employed in high-risk sectors had more accidents in the first few weeks than their Dutch colleagues.