Claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work in the first quarter decreased by 45, or 6.6 per cent, compared to the corresponding period in 2012. No fatal accident at work was reported.

Administrative records indicate that 632 persons had a non-fatal accident during the course of their work during the first quarter this year.

Accordingly, the number of accidents decreased by 45 (-6.6 per cent) over the corresponding quarter last year. Just over a fifth of non-fatal accidents at work occurred in manufacturing (21.5 per cent). Other economic sectors where accidents were quite common included construction (15.8 per cent) and wholesale and retail trade (10.8 per cent).

When compared to last year, accidents went down by 20 in manufacturing, and by 13 in construction. On the other hand, accidents in wholesale and retail trade increased by 14. The largest share of accidents at work during the quarter under review involved persons in elementary occupations and those working in crafts and related trades.

Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types, amounting to 294 and 170 cases respectively. Over the corresponding period last year, wounds and superficial injuries decreased by 2.0 per cent, while dislocations, strains and sprains dropped by 10.1 per cent. Nearly half the injuries at work affected the upper parts of the body, such as the fingers and hands.

In the quarter under review, nearly half the accidents at work took place in enterprises with more than 50 employees.

Between January and March, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported no fatal accident at work. There were 3 fatalities at work in the corresponding quarter last year.

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