UVG – Swiss Federal Act on Accident Insurance (SR 832.20)

Core elements

The UVG of 20 March 1981 (in force since 1 January 1984) obliges every employer in Switzerland to insure its employees against occupational accidents, non-occupational accidents and occupational diseases (Art. 1a UVG). Self-employed persons may join voluntarily (Art. 4 UVG). The act defines the insured events (Art. 6–9), benefits in kind such as medical treatment and aids (Art. 10 et seq.) and the cash benefits: daily allowance, disability pension, integrity compensation, helplessness allowance and survivors’ pensions (Art. 15 et seq.). All cash benefits are calculated on the insured earnings, whose maximum the Federal Council sets in the Ordinance on Accident Insurance (UVV). Reductions and refusals for hazardous activities, gross negligence or crimes are governed by Art. 37–39 UVG.

Organisation, financing and supervision

Administration is split in two: Suva compulsorily insures the businesses listed in Art. 66 UVG, while all other employers choose a registered private insurer, a public accident insurance fund or a health insurer (Art. 68 UVG); the substitute fund (Ersatzkasse) covers employees whose employer failed to insure them (Art. 72 f.). Premiums for occupational accidents and diseases are borne by the employer, those for non-occupational accidents in principle by the employee (Art. 91 UVG). Supervision of uniform application rests with the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). The 2017 revision clarified, among other things, the treatment of accident-like bodily injuries (Art. 6 para. 2) and the reduction of pensions at retirement age (Art. 20 para. 2ter).

Practical relevance

The UVG is the reference system for corporate personal lines in Switzerland: it determines what the employer must cover compulsorily and thereby defines the gaps (salary above the maximum insured earnings, the 20 per cent loss of earnings, benefit reductions) that a supplementary UVG cover under the VVG can close. For procedure, coordination and general definitions the ATSG applies in addition.