The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported that in the period between July and September 2004, four men and one woman had died in the course of their work.

Three of the men were working in the construction industry and one was working as a diver, whereas the woman was working on a farm. In the same period last year, four men died in the course of their work in the construction sector.

A total of 1,018 men and 138 women suffered non-fatal accidents at their workplace in the third quarter of 2004. These figures, however, were lower than those for the same period in 2003, said the NSO.

In the period under review, 88.1 per cent of reported occupational injuries happened to men.

As was the case last year, many of the occupational injuries are reported to have occurred in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Actually, 407 accidents (35.2 per cent) occurred in the manufacturing sector, which includes the shipyards. In addition, 170 accidents (14.7 per cent) were reported to have occurred in the construction sector.

People employed in elementary occupations and craftsmen and related trades workers are more likely to be involved in accidents at work. Accordingly, over half of the accidents at work are usually reported by people in these occupations.

In line with the manual nature of the occupation of the workers concerned, many accidents at work affect the upper extremity of the body. The most typical accidents in the workplace reported to the DSS relate to wounds and superficial injuries and dislocations, sprains and strains.

Many of the claimants for injury benefit in the period between July and September 2004 work in localities in the Southern Harbour and Northern Harbour districts.