More accidents at work

A total of 1,014 persons were involved in accidents at work between last October and December, the National Statistics Office said yesterday, referring to figures published by the Department of Social Security.

The number of accidents in the period under review increased by 85 (9.2 per cent) over the same period in 2005.

Many of the accidents occurred in manufacturing (34.2 per cent), construction (15.5 per cent), transport, storage, and communications (9.9 per cent), wholesale and retail trade (9.1 per cent).

Accidents mostly concern people employed in elementary occupations and craft/trades.

The statistics indicate that 499 cases (49.2 per cent) involved people in elementary occupations while 211 cases (20.8 per cent) affected people in craft/trades.

Half of the accidents happened to workers aged under 35.

People injured at work are mostly hurt in the upper extremities of their body.

Wounds and superficial injuries are the most common types of injuries and in fact featured in 461 (45.5 per cent) of the mishaps reported.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported that between October and December, a man died at work. There were no fatalities during the same period in 2005.