
Administrative
records show that 657 persons were involved in a non-fatal accident at work in
the first quarter this year. Nearly a quarter of non-fatal accidents at work
occurred in the manufacturing sector 23.3%. Another 108, or 16.4 per cent of
these accidents, occurred 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. On the other hand, a
decrease of 35 accidents was registered in the wholesale and retail trade
sector.
The
largest number of accidents at work 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 accidents at work took place in enterprises employing
over 500. Accidents that occurred in employment size of 50- 249 employees
amounted to 168 cases and from 10-49 amounted to 119 cases.
Fatal Accidents
Between
January and March, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported
one fatal accident at work. There were no fatalities at work during the
corresponding quarter last year.