Safety at work is an "afterthought" for unions, which only raise related problems when negotiating new collective agreements, the CEO of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority has charged.

"The subject is still often used as a bargaining tool or, worse, in trying to score a victory over another union competing for its members," Mark Gauci said.

He was speaking in the wake of two fatal accidents at work in the space of a few days last week. The accidents are still being investigated by the authority and a magisterial inquiry was opened in both.

One of the men died under the weight of heavy glass panes as he was unloading a fork-lift truck and a construction worker fell to his death in Rabat four days later, on Saturday, prompting Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat to call for the effective implementation of European health and safety laws.

"Following an accident at work, there is usually a chorus of people repeatedly asking what the authority is doing and why it is not adequately resourced," Dr Gauci said, questioning why assistance should only come from the OHSA, with its already stretched resources.

The reality is that it is only one of many stakeholders, he pointed out.

Unions beg to differ, with the General Workers' Union categorically disagreeing and denying the "afterthought" claim and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin expressing astonishment and pointing its finger at the government for leaving the social aspect on the backburner.

The GWU had always given the issue importance, raising it onto a national level and calling for an increase in the number of health and safety inspectors, GWU secretary general Tony Zarb said.

He also highlighted the union's appeals to construction workers in particular, where "big abuse on the part of employers" is rampant, to organise themselves in a union, which would look after their needs.

UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella also referred to the union's ongoing work. He pointed to a letter the union sent to Social Policy Minister John Dalli two weeks ago reminding him of the government's commitment in November 2007 to look into the health and safety law, particularly as regards construction workers, so that the accidents that had occurred would not be repeated.

"We have continued insisting on the matter, which is still high on our agenda," Mr Vella said.

Dr Gauci went beyond the unions. "In the context of discussing how to lower the number of occupational diseases, how many doctors bother to evaluate whether there is an association between the medical condition they are treating and the workplace? When they do detect such an association, how many actually bother to notify the relevant authorities?

"Moreover, what are constituted bodies doing to promote occupational health and safety and to assist their members to be compliant?

"Why do architects not advise clients about their obligations in terms of the existing legislation?"

The OHSA is recommending that no planning permits are issued unless it can be shown that all legal requirements pertaining to health and safety are met.

Following the fatal accidents, it is also usually pointed out that the authority is understaffed and does not have the tools to work.

Dr Gauci develops this point: "It can only do so much with its 25 employees, of whom 10 are used for general workplace visits, with another five having a technical background".

But despite the lack of resources, a downward trend in fatal occupational accidents has been registered since the authority was set up seven years ago and, overall, it is likely to continue, even though 2009 has already witnessed two thirds of the fatalities that occurred last year, the OHSA said.

Since it started operations in January 2002, an average 12 fatal accidents at work were registered annually, dwindling to three last year. The number of reported occupational injuries has also been showing a downward trend: from about 5,200 in 2,000 to just over 4,300 last year.

"Progress has definitely been made but it does not mean we should be complacent not least because of the financial and economic implications and the proven link between the prevailing levels of occupational health and safety and competitiveness and economic sustainability," Dr Gauci said.