684 non-fatal accidents in fourth quarter 2012

Administrative records indicate that 684 persons had a non-fatal accident during the course of their work during the fourth quarter last year. Accordingly, the number of accidents during the period under review decreased by 4 (-0.6 per cent) over the corresponding period in 2011.

About a fifth of non-fatal accidents at work occurred in manufacturing. Other economic sectors where accidents resulted to be quite common were construction (15.8 per cent) and transportation and storage (11.1 per cent). When compared to the corresponding period in 2011, the number of accidents went down by 31 in manufacturing, but remained stable in construction. The number of accidents in transportation and storage increased by 7. The largest share of accidents at work during the quarter under review involved persons in elementary occupations and crafts and related trades.

Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 308 and 206 cases respectively. While the former remained stable, the latter increased by 19.8 per cent. Men tended to be more affected by wounds and superficial injuries; women are more likely to suffer from dislocations, sprains and stains.

Upper and lower extremities made up 66.6 per cent of all reported injuries during the fourth quarter. On the other hand, injuries in the upper extremities decreased by 31, or 9.7 per cent, while injuries in the lower extremities increased by 29 or 21.2 per cent.

Between October and December 2012, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported one fatal accident at work. There were no fatalities at work in the corresponding quarter in the preceding year.