Commuting involves dangers: thousands of people have a slipping accident every year
According to the Finnish Workers’ Compensation Center, the majority of commuting accidents happen to pedestrians. For example in 2024, pedestrians had a total of 14,378 commuting accidents, and 94 per cent of them (over 13,500) were cases of falling or slipping. In addition, some falls, such as falls in yards or parking lots, are not included in statistics on accidents of pedestrians.
According to the Finnish Workers’ Compensation Center, compensations paid for commuting accidents on foot during the same year amounted to nearly EUR 40,000,000. In addition to the significant human suffering, the costs may also become high for an individual employer.
"The compensations for commuting accidents are largely care costs and daily allowances. Workplaces can also estimate what kind of other impacts there would be if a key person were suddenly absent for a few weeks or a month. The most effective way is to prevent accidents in advance," says Janne Sysi-Aho, Database Analyst at the Finnish Workers’ Compensation Center.
A large number of falls are also accidental injuries outdoors during working hours and, for example, in work that involves moving a lot between indoors and outdoors.
How can employees prevent slipping accidents themselves?
You can prevent accidents through your own actions, and an essential part of this is looking after your physical health throughout the year. You should be aware of possible slippery conditions even before starting off and choose your footwear according to the weather or use anti-slip guards or studded boots The list of seven tips helps reduce the risk of slipping.
List of tips for staying upright
Check the pedestrian weather warning.
Choose your shoes to match the weather.
Use anti-slip accessories.
Reserve enough time for your journeys.
Focus on walking.
Provide feedback to maintenance services.
Take care of your physical health and be prepared.
The Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright campaign will run from 12 to 25 January 2026. The campaign reminds us that we can reduce slipping accidents through our own actions and choices. By anticipating and being prepared, you can get around smoothly in winter. Test how well you can stay upright in slippery conditions, and participate in the prize draw: The Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright test (in Finnish).
Campaign participants: The Traumatic Brain Injury Association of Finland, City of Helsinki, The Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention EHYT, Finance Finland, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities, Finnish Road Safety Council, Finnish Osteoporosis Association, LocalTapiola, Nikander and Wiinikka Oy, Partioaitta, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Red Cross, Taitavat Suutarit ry, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
