Non-fatal workplace accidents down by 15% in second quarter

Claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work in the second quarter of 2015 decreased by 125, or 14.6 per cent, compared to the corresponding period of 2014. Two fatal accidents at work were reported.

Administrative records show that 733 persons were involved in a non-fatal accident during their work in the second quarter this year.

The majority of non-fatal accidents at work occurred in the manufacturing sector (19.9 per cent). Another 122 or 16.6 per cent of these accidents occurred in construction followed by transportation and storage (11.9 per cent).

When compared to the same quarter last year, the number of accidents in accomodation and food service activities went down by 54. The largest share of accidents at work involved persons working in elementary occupations, followed by those in crafts and related trades.

Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 466 and 152 cases respectively. Of all injuries, 339 affected the upper extremities of the body, such as fingers and hands.

In the second quarter, nearly 28 per cent of accidents at work took place in enterprises which employed between 50-249 workers.

Between April and June 2015, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported two fatal accidents at work. There were no fatalities at work in the corresponding period of 2014.