More occupational accidents reported

A total of 983 persons were reported to the Department of Social Security as having had an accident at work between January and March this year, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

Three accidents at work were fatal, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA).

The number of workplace accidents increased by 59 (6.4 per cent) over the same quarter last year.

Manufacturing accounted for 32.9 per cent of the accidents, while other accident-prone sectors were construction (17.6 per cent), the wholesale and retail trade (8.4 per cent) and transport, storage, and communications (8.2 per cent).

Even though it topped the list, a reduction of 9.3 per cent in accidents was registered in the manufacturing sector.

Accidents at work mostly concern people employed in elementary occupations and craft/trades work. The statistics made available to the NSO indicate that 437 cases (44.5 per cent) concerned people in elementary occupations, while 237 cases (24.1 per cent) affected people in craft/trades work.

People at work are mostly affected by injuries in the upper extremities of their body and wounds and superficial injuries are the most common types.

The OHSA reported that between January and March three people - two men and one woman - died in the course of their work, equal to the figure in the same quarter last year.