Non-fatal accidents at work increased by 11.6%

Data provided by the Department of Social Security indicate that between October and December 2013, 772 persons had non-fatal accidents during their course of work. Accordingly, the number of accidents increased by 11.6% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012.

The Manufacturing sector recorded the highest number of accidents, with 24% of the total. Other economic activities where accidents were quite common included Construction (13.5%) and Transport and Storage activities (10.9%).

When compared to 2012, non-fatal accidents in Administrative and Support Services activities increased by 39, while a decrease of 10 cases was recorded within the Human Health and Social Work activities.

The largest share of accidents during the fourth quarter last year involved persons in craft and related trades, followed by those working in elementary occupations.

Wounds and superficial injuries, as well as dislocations, sprains and strains, were the most common types of injuries sustained during the fourth quarter, amounting to 334 and 190 respectively. Nearly 44% of all injuries at work affected the upper extremities of the body while 22% involved injuries to the lower extremities of the body.

In the quarter under review, 27.1% of injury claims concerned persons aged between 25 and 34. People working in enterprises located within the Southern Harbour and Northern Harbour districts reported the majority of non-fatal accidents.

During the last quarter of 2013, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported one fatal accident at work, involving a male.