Claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work decreased by 8.8 per cent in the fourth quarter last year when compared to the corresponding period in 2010. No fatal accidents at work were reported.
During the last three months of 2011, 682 persons had an accident during the course of their work during the fourth quarter last year. 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. Persons in elementary occupations and crafts were mostly involved in accidents at work with 222 and 140 cases respectively.
Persons aged between 25 and 34 were the most likely to have an accident while at work. In this regard, an accident from every four that occurred during the fourth quarter happened to workers within this age group. Another 23.3 per cent of accidents occurred to persons aged 45-54. The number of accidents at work decreased across all the age groups except for persons aged 55 and over.
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. The Southern and Northern Harbour areas were the top two regions where these accidents occurred.
Between October and December of 2011, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA)
did not report any fatal accident at work. There were also no fatal accidents reported during the corresponding quarter in 2010.