Commuting involves dangers: thousands of people have a slipping accident every year

12.1.2026

Year after year, falling and slipping are the top causes in commuting accident statistics. In 2024, over 13,500 pedestrians slipped or fell on their way to work. The Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright campaign now being launched urges both individual people and employers to take into account the slippery winter conditions and stay upright, as the costs caused by slipping and falling accidents become high.

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, the 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 the employer contribute to the safety of commuting? 

Accessibility specialist Johanna Hätönen from the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities reminds that, with regard to the safety of commuting, the employer’s responsibilities include taking care of the yard of the workplace.

The employer must assess the risks on the premises of the workplace and ensure, for example, that winter maintenance is sufficient and that it matches the changing weather conditions.

“This involves proper gritting, snow removal, lighting, and paying attention to level differences and marking them. The employer must also ensure that everyone knows where to give feedback on the maintenance of the yard areas at the workplace.”

The accessibility of an accessible parking space must also be ensured during winter so that the working life participation of a disabled employee is realised in practice. For persons with disabilities, this is a matter of non-discrimination in working life.

“This year, communication in the Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright campaign has also been targeted at workplaces. For example, social media photos and posters are available for sharing and distributing, and it is possible to organise a 15-minute Stay upright safety session for employees. Instructions on how to hold the session can be found on the front page of the campaign. We challenge all workplaces to participate in preventing slipping accidents,” says Saara Aakko, Specialist, health promotion at the Finnish Red Cross, who coordinates the campaign.

It should be remembered that workplaces have the opportunity to develop commuting together with employees to make it safer even though commuting takes place in the employee’s own time.

Could the rules for safe commuting be a solution to slipping accidents?

A couple of years ago, the principles of “How the Finnish Road Safety Council’s personnel stay safe in traffic (in Finnish)” were drawn up together at the Finnish Road Safety Council.

“Although our employees almost automatically anticipate the conditions and commute safely, it was still important to record matters related to commuting and work-related travel. The principles are also used to familiarise new employees,” emphasises Laura Loikkanen, Planning Officer at the Finnish Road Safety Council.

The guidelines highlight the importance of considering the weather and other conditions in traffic and paying attention both behind the wheel and when walking.

“A good example is that our employer pays anti-slip guards for everyone. This alone shows the management’s strong involvement in this work, and together we can contribute to the safety of commuting,” says Loikkanen.

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:

1. Check the pedestrian weather warning.
2. Choose your shoes to match the weather.   
3. Use anti-slip accessories.
4. Reserve enough time for your journeys.
5. Focus on walking.
6. Provide feedback to maintenance services.
7. 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)

The Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright materials can be downloaded, including the safety session, the poster and social media images.

Further information:   

Finnish Workers’ Compensation Center, Database Analyst Janne Sysi-Aho, tel. +358 404 504 232

Finnish Road Safety Council, Planning Officer Laura Loikkanen, +358 20 7282 341

Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities, Accessibility specialist Johanna Hätönen, +358 44 765 0521

About the campaign:

Finnish Red Cross, Specialist, Health Promotion, Saara Aakko +358 40 4806973, saara.aakko@redcross.fi

You can download the Workbook on commuting safety for yourself on the Finnish Road Safety Council’s website. The workbook is helpful when you are drawing up the rules for commuting for your workplace.

Kotitapaturma on Facebook  |  Kotitapaturma on X  |  Take the Pysy pystyssä – Stay upright test

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.