Social Security – Occupational Accidents Insurance

Section: occupational accidents

Employees are covered against occupational accidents and accidents on the way to and from work. To this end, the employer must take out insurance with a recognised insurance company or with a recognised joint insurance fund. The employer, the employee or family members must report each occupational accident to the insurance company or the safety at work inspector on a form within 10 days. Where possible, include a doctor's certificate.

In the event of an accident at work, you may be entitled to the following benefits: 

• compensation for temporary or permanent, partial or total incapacity for work; 
• in some cases, carer assistance; 
• medical treatment; 
• hospitalisation and prostheses; 
• travelling expenses and fatal accident at work benefits. 

These can also be paid in another Member State of the EU.

If you do not return to work, consolidation of unfitness to work takes effect. The insurance company's doctor will determine the date of the consolidation and the remaining disability percentage. For procedures and benefits it is best to contact the fund. You can also appeal to the industrial tribunal.

You are free to choose the doctor or hospital, unless the employer (or its insurance company) possesses recognised medical services. Treatment will be reimbursed in full.

The travel expenses of the insured person and their family members will be reimbursed under certain conditions.
Other benefits include: funeral benefits, annuity, a temporary pension for children up to the age of 18, or as long as the child is entitled to child benefit.

Further information can be obtained from your employer's insurance company or the Fonds des Accidents de Travail (Fund for Occupational Accidents)

• Fonds des Accidents de Travail
  At: Rue du Trône 100, 1050 Brussels
  Tel: 020 506 84 11

Section: occupational diseases

All employees, including skilled, are insured for diseases that are included on an official list and diseases that are the direct result of performing the job in question. The person concerned must demonstrate the risk and the causal relationship.

The following benefits are available in the event of an occupational disease: 

• benefit for temporary, permanent, total or partial unfitness for work; 
• assistance from third parties; 
• benefit for temporary or permanent cessation of the professional activity as a preventive measure. 

The insured person is then entitled to benefit because of total (temporary) unfitness for work.

There is also an entitlement to retraining; benefit in the event of the death of the insured person as a result of the occupational disease; and medical treatment. The insured person is free to choose the doctor who will provide the medical care. They are entitled to full reimbursement of costs at official rates and reimbursement of travel expenses. Benefits are calculated and paid in the same way as for occupational accidents

Formalities

The benefit must be applied for by the person concerned or his/her representative (e.g. the insurance company) by submitting a form to the Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles (Fund for Occupational Diseases).
The percentage of unfitness for work can be revised.

Further information is available from:

• Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles (Fund for Occupational Diseases)
  At: Avenue de l'Astronomie 1, 1210 Brussels
  Tel: 020 226 62 11

In the event of occupational accident or disease

White-collar workers hired for a period of less than three months are entitled to the same benefits as manual workers. For the period from the eighth to the 30th day, however, the employer's contribution is 86.93% of the normal gross salary.

White-collar workers hired for at least three months are entitled to the normal salary from their employer for the first 30 calendar days. After the 30th day the health insurance scheme pays directly.

No rights can be derived from this text.

Text last edited on: 08/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.