The administrative records for the injury benefit of the Department of Social Security indicate that 983 persons had an accident in the course of their work between January and March, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday. Accordingly, the number of accidents in the first quarter of this year increased by 59 (6.4 per cent) over the same period in the preceding year.

Many of these accidents at work occurred in manufacturing (32.9 per cent), construction (17.6 per cent), wholesale and retail trade (8.4 per cent), and transport, storage, and communications (8.2 per cent), it is pertinent to note herein that, although the manufacturing sector remained the one which is most accident-prone, a reduction of 9.3 per cent in accidents was evident within this sector.

Accidents at work mostly concern people employed in elementary occupations and craft/trades work. In this way, the given statistics indicate that 437 cases (44.5 per cent) concerned people in elementary occupations, while 237 cases (24.1 per cent) affected people in craft/trades work.

People at work are mostly affected by injuries in the upper extremities of their body. Wounds and superficial injuries are the most common types of injuries.

Fatal accidents

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported that in the period from January to March, two men and one woman lost their lives in the course of their work. During the same period in the preceding year, three people had died at work.