Examples work accidents

An accident at work is defined as an accident that occurs in connection with the employment covered by the insurance in terms of location, time and cause. Accidents that occur while teleworking are also considered accidents at work.

In addition, an accident is considered an accident at work if, among other things, it occurs

• on the direct route from the permanent place of residence to work, to lunch or on the way home, whereby carpooling is also covered,
• during training measures that serve to acquire specific professional knowledge, whereby an accident on the way to the training centre is also considered an accident at work,
• on the direct way from home or from the place of work or training to a doctor and back, if this interrupts the direct route from the permanent place of residence to work or the way home (the employer must be notified of the visit to the doctor in advance),
• on the way to or from work or training for the purpose of taking a child to or picking up a child from a childcare facility, day care, external care or school, provided that the insured person has a duty of supervision for the child,

• when using interest groups or professional associations (Chamber of Labour, trade union federation, guild et cetera).

For kindergarten children, school pupils and students, an accident is considered a work-related accident if, among other things,

• in connection with the location, time and cause of the school or university education giving rise to the insurance or in the compulsory kindergarten year,
• during participation in a school event or school-related event,
• on the direct way from home or permanent accommodation to nursery school or school/university or on the way home,
• when performing a practical activity prescribed as part of the curriculum or study regulations, or
• during certain career (education) orientation activities.

In an agricultural or forestry business, accidents are also considered work accidents if they do not occur directly during the activity that justifies the insurance.

According to the provisions of the ASVG, accident insurance coverage also applies to work performed by an employee

• in the household of the business owner or employee, if the household serves the business to a significant extent,
• work carried out in connection with the construction, conversion and repair of buildings used for agricultural or forestry purposes, as well as work carried out as part of neighbourhood assistance for another agricultural or forestry business.

The following activities carried out in agriculture and forestry are also covered by accident insurance in accordance with the provisions of the BSVG and also cover the following activities carried out by self-employed persons in agriculture and forestry and their assisting relatives, for example:

• Work related to the accommodation of guests for holiday and recreational purposes under certain additional conditions (farm holidays),
• Secondary commercial activities such as the administration and serving of self-produced products in the context of alpine pasture management,
• Work related to the construction, conversion and repair of buildings used for agricultural and forestry operations,
• Work carried out as part of neighbourhood assistance for another agricultural or forestry operation,
• Work related to the construction of roads within and between farms, insofar as this serves to open up agricultural (forestry) land (public roads).

Certain accidents are equivalent to accidents at work, regardless of whether the person who had the accident is covered by statutory accident insurance or not. This includes accidents that occur in one of the following situations:

• when performing activities that entitle the person to benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Act or the Labour Market Support Act (e.g. on the way to a job interview arranged by the employment service),
• when providing assistance in the event of an accident or when donating blood,
• during training, exercises and deployment as a member of one of the following aid organisations:
  • Volunteer fire brigade,
  • Volunteer water rescue service,
  • Volunteer rescue organisation,
  • Austrian Red Cross,
  • Austrian Mountain Rescue Service,
  • Austrian Water Rescue Service,
  • Austrian Rescue Dog Brigade,
  • Avalanche Warning Commission,
  • Air Rescue Service,
  • Radiation detection and measurement teams.

Legal basis

• §§ 8, 175, 176 General Social Security Act (ASVG)
• § 148c Farmers’ Social Security Act (BSVG)