Drop in accidents at work

Non-fatal accidents at work decreased by 16.9 per cent between July and September compared to the same quarter last year, according to data released by the statistics office.

In the period under review, there were 873 non-fatal accidents - 178 less than last year - and one fatality, the same as last year.

Workplace health and safety was an issue of concern during the past month, however, as two workers died at work last month, with unions calling for more resources for the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

Just over a quarter of the accidents happened in the manufacturing sector, followed by15.2 per cent in construction and 14 per cent in transport, storage and communication.

Slightly less than half - 45.5 per cent - of accidents involved blue-collar workers and 20.5 per cent affected people in craft and trades work.

Just over 46 per cent of accidents affected people under 35 years of age, with the majority of injuries involving the upper extremities of the body, mostly hands and fingers.