Occupational accidents drop by 4.5%

Non-fatal workplace accidents dropped by 4.5 percent to 979 in the last quarter of 2007 when compared to the same quarter in 2006, the National Statistics Office said.There were three fatal accidents during the same three months, compared to one between October and December 2006..

The NSO said that according to data collected by the Department of Social Security (DSS), just over a third of the accidents took place in the manufacturing sector. The Cconstruction industry accounted for 14 percent, transport, storage, and communication,12.0 percent and wholesale and retail trade, 10.2 percent.

Accidents at work mostly involved people employed in elementary occupations and craft/trades work. Just over 43 percent of the injured were under 35 years of age.