No occupational fatalities were reported in the fourth quarter last year and claims in respect of non-fatal accidents decreased by 8.8 per cent, the National Statistics Office said.

The NSO said that according to administrative records held at the Department of Social Security 682 people had an occupational accident in last year's fourth quarter.

Accordingly, the number of accidents during this period decreased by 66 (-8.8 per cent) over the corresponding period in 2010.

Over 80 per cent of these accidents involved men.

The largest shares of non-fatal accidents at work occurred in manufacturing (24.6 per cent); construction (14.2 per cent); wholesale and retail trade (10.9 per cent); and transport storage and communication (10.3 per cent).

The number of accidents decreased in all the above mentioned sectors when compared to the previous year.

People in elementary occupations and crafts were mostly involved in accidents at work with 222 and 140 cases, respectively.

An accident from every four that occurred during the fourth quarter happened to workers within the 25 to 34 years age group. Another 23.3 per cent of accidents occurred to persons aged 45-54.

The number of occupational accidents decreased across all the age groups except for the 55 and over group.

Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 304 and 170 cases, respectively.

There was a slight increase of six cases involving wounds and superficial injuries, while non-fatal accidents leading to dislocations, sprains and strains decreased by 55.

In terms of part of body injured, accidents involving upper and lower extremities were the most common, in line with previous years.

During the fourth quarter of 2011 companies employing 500 employees and more recorded the largest number of claims for accidents at work.