Claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work decreased by 12.5 per cent in the second quarter when compared to the corresponding period in 2010. One fatal occupational accident was reported.

The National Statistics Office said administrative records indicate that 754 people had an accident in the course of their work in the second quarter. Accordingly, the number of accidents during this period decreased by 108 over the corresponding period last year.

On a gender basis, 644 men suffered an accident at work during the second quarter, whereas the number of females who had an occupational accident in the same period amounted to 110.

The majority of accidents at work occurred in manufacturing (25.3 per cent); construction (16.1 per cent); and transport, storage and communication (12.6 per cent).

However, the number of accidents decreased in these sectors when compared to the corresponding period last year.

In the three months to the end of June 2011, 296 accidents, or 39.3 per cent, involved persons in elementary occupations, while 127 accidents, or 16.8 per cent, concerned crafts and related trades workers.

Persons aged between 25 and 34 were the most likely to have an accident while at work.

Wounds and superficial injuries and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 298, or 39.5 per cent, and 244, or 32.4 per cent, respectively.

In terms of part of body injured, accidents involving upper and lower extremities were the most common during the quarter under review.

Between April and June, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority reported that there was one fatal accident at work.

During the corresponding period last year there were no occupational fatalities.