Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – The reality of workplace accidents is broader than what emerges from statistics, and the manner and timing with which work-related injuries are recognized today also play a role. Sara Palazzoli, a member of the Inca Cgil board of directors, stated this in an interview with Adnkronos/Labitalia. "The INAIL data updated to September," she stated, "confirm what we see every day at our offices: in our country, people continue to get sick, injured, and die at work.
INAIL data shows that in the first nine months of 2026, reports of occupational diseases increased by 16,3%, and workplace injuries by 4,8%. Fatal accident reports totaled 823, compared to 784 in the same period in 2025: 589 at work, 221 on the commute, and 13 among students.
Not to mention deaths from occupational diseases, such as tumors, which are not included in this count."
"These numbers alone," she observes, "give us pause for thought. The problem is that the issue is broader than what's being recorded, namely the complaints filed. Many workers don't report for fear of repercussions, especially those in precarious employment who fear that, after reporting, they won't be called for a new contract.
Then there are the requests for recognition that remain unanswered for months, sometimes over a year. These are damages that exist, even if they don't appear in the calculations."
"The INCA regional offices," he emphasizes, "are primarily concerned about staffing shortages. INAIL currently has few doctors, essential for assessing work-related injuries, and few administrative staff. It's not just us saying this, the Institute itself is saying it: according to the 2025 Annual Report, at the end of 2025, it was short approximately 20% of the expected staff. In our offices, we see the effects at every stage of the process. In some areas, the first appointment is delayed months. When an application is rejected, perhaps for generic reasons, we must seek access to documents and then appeal through administrative channels. Joint appointments, in which INAIL doctors and those from the social security organization discuss the connection between illness and work, can be convened more than a year after the appeal, due to a shortage of doctors. If an agreement isn't reached, the only remaining option is legal action, which further lengthens the process. We only take cases with solid evidence to court, and in fact, over 70% of cases are successfully resolved."
"The wait for the accident to be recognized weighs heavily on the decision to forgo reporting," admits Sara Palazzoli, a member of the Inca Cgil Board of Directors. "Let's think of those who have suffered an injury or become ill at work. For them, every month counts: they remain in limbo, unsure whether their status will be recognized or what they are entitled to. When the process drags on without a clear deadline, the most vulnerable or precarious people may decide to give up and abandon it. In our offices, we see two forms of withdrawal. There are those who don't report it for fear of losing their job, and faced with the prospect of a long and uncertain process, they have yet another reason to remain silent. And there are those who file a claim, but then abandon it because they can't stand the wait between the first medical examination, appeals, and panel meetings. In both cases, the right is not exercised, and we find no trace of these withdrawals in the statistics. For this reason, the INAIL numbers, already worrying, only tell a part of the story. The wait falls on the individuals and, when the worker dies due to work, on their families".
The recognition of a right to injury compensation shouldn't depend on the province in which the claim is filed, yet INCA's regional data doesn't show this. "What we observe at INCA offices," he specifies, "is supported by the analysis of the Italian Inter-Associative Council for Prevention (CIIP): the percentage of approved occupational disease claims ranges from 20% to 60% depending on the provincial office, even within the same region. Such a wide range raises questions about uniformity of treatment and equal protection. Meanwhile, claims are increasing: according to CIIP, claims will have reached nearly 98.500 in 2025, while the percentage of conditions recognized by INAIL is decreasing. And in the first nine months of 2026, they will continue to grow by 16,3%."
"There are therefore," she clarifies, "more applications to be processed, given the shortage of doctors and staff. Therefore, in addition to prevention, we must invest in recognition: more doctors and more staff are needed so that the Institute can guarantee quicker visits, more frequent consultations, and clear reasons for rejections in every province. For Inca, the goal is for everyone to see their rights recognized."
(by Sabrina Rosci)
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