The initial report by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority has ruled out that a steel wire supporting a crane load was overloaded.

At least, we may take some solace in that. Although this case seems to have been a genuine one of misfortune, it continues to highlight the dangers which people face at work. Statistics showed that there were almost 700 injuries which occurred at the workplace last year. None, thankfully, were fatal.

One positive aspect to the figures was that there was an overall reduction of about 8% in terms of the number of cases. So perhaps, something is paying off. But all too often, we see so many workers who go about their jobs without taking the necessary safety precautions. Just a few months ago, this newspaper published photographs and a story concerning a worker who was working on the Ġużè Ellul Mercer Bridge and was not wearing a safety harness while leaning over into the void.

The figures also show that some of the most dangerous sectors for injuries are the construction industry and the manufacturing industry. One can understand why. In the manufacturing industry people are handling high-powered tools and can get injured quite quickly just by moving a limb or digit a fraction too late.

But working in construction is more inherently dangerous. One sometimes wonders just how much a helmet or steel tipped boots can really help. If a ceiling collapses on top of a person, then one could not imagine them having much of a chance. But research has shown that wearing a helmet and other protective gear does increase chances of survival dramatically.

Sadly, here in Malta, we still seem to embrace the macho culture when it comes to issues such as these. It almost seems as though some people are more content to ‘look good’ rather than safeguard against injury.

The OHSA does do its bit and the two major trade unions, the UĦM and the GWU, do organise training seminars and constantly push their members to embrace safety equipment and to try and take as many precautions as they can. But they can only do so much. Much of it is down to the individual; but the contract boss should also make sure that all necessary safety equipment is provided and, more importantly, used, rigorously.

One has to understand that fate is, what it is. One can never forget a tragic accident some years back when a young man working at Magħtab was using a mallet. He took a swipe at whatever he was trying to hit and a tiny fragment of steel sheared off the mallet and killed him on the spot. There is no protection in some instances.

But there are other instances where workers can protect themselves. When working at a height, they should wear a harness. They should wear hard hats, protective shoes, high visibility jackets and face protection in other instances.

Malta still lags behind in this respect. It is not that we do not have the means to do it, it is a cultural thing and collectively, we must continue to shift in the direction of safety.