One fatal occupational accident was reported in the first quarter of this year while non-fatal occupational accidents increased by 14, or 2.2 per cent, compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the National Statistics Office.

The NSO said 657 persons were involved in a non-fatal accidents at work during the period.

Nearly a quarter of these accidents occurred in the manufacturing sector. Another 108, or 16.4 per cent were in construction, while 13.1 per cent were registered in the transportation and storage sector.

When compared to the corresponding quarter last year, the number of accidents increased by 31 in transportation and storage, 29 in manufacturing and 19 in construction. A drop of 35 accidents was registered in the wholesale and retail trade sector.

The largest number of occupational accidents during the reference quarter involved persons in elementary occupations (26.5 per cent) and those involved in crafts and related trades (25.7 per cent).

Wounds and superficial injuries together with dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 304 and 173 cases, respectively. Nearly half the injuries affected the upper parts of the body.

Almost a third of all registered occupational accidents took place in enterprises employing more than 500 people.