The National Statistics Office said today that four fatal accidents at work were reported, in the first half of this year. The number of claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work decreased by 60, or 4.1 per cent, compared to the corresponding period in 2015.

Administrative records show that 1,420 persons were involved in a non-fatal accident during their work in the first half of 2016.

The majority of non-fatal accidents at work occurred in the manufacturing sector (16.9 per cent). Another 220 or 15.5 per cent of these accidents occurred in construction followed by transport and storage (14.8 per cent).

When compared to the same period last year, the number of accidents decreased by 52 in manufacturing and increased by 36 in public administration and defence; compulsory social security. The largest share of accidents at work during the reference period involved persons working in elementary occupations followed by craft and related trades workers.

Nearly half of the injuries at work affected the upper extremities of the body, such as the fingers and hands. Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, strains and sprains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 860 and 315 cases respectively.

In the first half of the year, almost one third of the accidents at work took place in enterprises with more than 500 employees (33.1 per cent).

ts Between January and June 2016, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported four fatal accidents at work. There were three fatalities at work in the corresponding period of 2015.

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