Non-fatal claims of accidents at work decreased by 16.9% in the third quarter this year when compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to the filed claims of accidents at work reported to the Department of Social Security (DSS) between July and September 2009, 873 persons had an accident in the course of their work in the period under review. Accordingly, the number of accidents in the third quarter this year decreased by 178 (-16.9%) over the comparative period in 2008.
Many of these accidents at work occurred in the economic sectors of manufacturing (25.8%); construction (15.2%); and transport, storage and communication (14%).
The occupational categories mostly affected were the elementary and trades occupations. The statistics indicate that 397 cases (45.5%) involved people in elementary occupations, while 179 cases (20.5%) affected people in craft/trades work.
In the period under review, 46.5% of accidents at work occurred to persons who were under 35 years of age. As a result, the data indicate that 406 of these accidents occurred to this age cohort.
People at work are mostly affected by injuries in the upper extremities of their body. In fact, 42.2% of accidents at work concerned the upper extremities, including hands and fingers.
Wounds and superficial injuries are the most common types of injuries and featured 422 (48.3%) times.
The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported that between July and September 2009 there was one fatality at work. In the corresponding period of 2008, there was also one fatality at work.
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