There were more non-fatal accidents at work in the first quarter this year when compared to last year, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

At 1,032, the number showed an increase of 3.3 per cent when compared to the January-March period in the preceding year. There were no fatal accidents at work during the period under review.

The NSO considered the accidents at work that were reported to the Department of Social Security (DSS) as from January to March 2007.

Many of these accidents occurred in the economic sectors of manufacturing (34.3 per cent), construction (17.8 per cent), transport, storage, and communications (10.7 per cent), and the wholesale and retail trades (7.4 per cent).

Accidents at work mostly concern people employed in elementary occupations and craft/trades work.

In this way, the given statistics indicate that 514 cases (49.8 per cent) concerned people in elementary occupations, while 223 cases (21.6 per cent) affected people in craft/trades work.

In the period under review, 44.1 per cent of the accidents at work occurred to 455 persons who were under 35 years of age.

People at work are mostly affected by injuries in the upper extremities of their body.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported that in January to March 2007, there were no fatalities at work.

During the same period in the preceding year, three persons died at work.