How and within what time must a workplace accident be reported in Belgium?

In the private sector, the employer declares the accident to its accident-at-work insurer within 8 days, counted from the day after the accident. If it is a serious accident that caused death or a permanent injury, the employer also notifies the Supervision of Well-being at Work immediately, and for every serious accident the employer sends the inspectorate a circumstantial report within 10 days.

Short answer

• Minor accident (first aid only, no medical care, no incapacity, no loss of pay): entry in the first-aid register; no declaration unless the worker's condition worsens, then within 8 days of learning of it.
• Any other accident at work or on the way to or from work: declaration to the insurer within 8 days from the next day, plus the medical certificate of first finding as soon as available.
• Serious accident, fatal or with permanent injury: immediate notification to the inspectorate (CBE / TWW) by electronic means.
• Every serious accident: immediate investigation by the prevention service and a signed circumstantial report to the inspectorate within 10 days; a provisional report may be accepted.
• Public sector: declarations go electronically through Fedris's Publiato application instead of an insurer.

Which accidents count as serious

The Code (article I.6-2) defines a serious accident at work as:

1. A fatal accident; or
2. An accident at the workplace directly linked to a listed deviation (for example electrical problem, explosion, fire, leak, collapse, loss of control of a machine or vehicle, fall from height, being caught or drawn in) or a listed material agent (for example scaffolds, excavations, machines, vehicles, hazardous substances), which caused either a permanent injury or a listed temporary injury.

The listed temporary injuries include fractures, amputations, wounds with loss of tissue causing several days' incapacity, concussions and internal injuries that could be life-threatening without treatment, electrical injuries and burns causing several days' incapacity, acute poisoning, asphyxia and drowning, and radiation effects. Immediate notification under article I.6-3 is required for fatal accidents and those with permanent injury; the 10-day circumstantial report applies to all serious accidents.

The notification states the employer's name and enterprise number, the victim's name, the date and place, the likely consequences and a short description. The circumstantial report covers the location, the circumstances with photographs, primary, secondary and tertiary causes, recommendations, the employer's decisions and an action plan with deadlines, and the Committee's advice.

Other records and recent changes

The prevention service completes an accident sheet for every accident causing at least four days of incapacity; the insurer's declaration form may replace it. Sheets are kept for at least ten years, at the site concerned, and are available to inspectors.

Fedris states that declaring through the social security portal will no longer be possible from 1 January 2027; from that date employers declare directly to their insurer. A missed 8-day deadline does not end the duty: the accident must still be declared within the 3-year limitation period, the victim's rights remain guaranteed, and Fedris asks to be contacted where an employer has not declared. A late or missing declaration exposes the employer to sanctions.

How Belgium compares

The EU Framework Directive requires a list of accidents causing more than three working days of incapacity and leaves reporting rules to member states. In Türkiye, Law No. 6331 (Article 14) requires the employer to report a work accident to the Social Security Institution (SGK) within three working days after the accident. In the United Kingdom, RIDDOR sets its own categories and deadlines.

Common mistakes

• Waiting to see whether an injury is permanent before calling the inspectorate. If permanence is likely, notify; Fedris points employers to an official online tool for checking whether an accident counts as serious.
• Treating the insurer declaration as the report to the inspectorate. They are separate duties.

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in Belgium: law, authorities and employer duties
• Incident first response, reporting and scene preservation
• OSH law comparison: appointments and reporting deadlines
• What are the penalties for breaking occupational safety rules in Belgium?

Standards and further reading

• Act of 4 August 1996, Articles 94bis to 94nonies (serious accidents): FPS Employment PDF
• Code of well-being at work, book I, title 6 and annexes I.6-1 to I.6-3: FPS Employment PDF
• Fedris, declaration of an accident at work in the private sector: fedris.be
• Fedris, employer obligations: fedris.be

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.