Accidents are more likely in health, social work sectors than in construction

The number of accidents reported at work decreased in the first half of 2023, dropping by 8.8 per cent to 1,062 when compared to the period between January and June of 2022.

According to a new release by the National Statistics Office, the manufacturing sector proved to be the most accident-prone, registering the most injuries (14 per cent). It was followed by the transportation and storage sector (13.5 per cent).

Interestingly, the health and social work sector (12.3 per cent) saw more accidents than construction (10.4 per cent), despite the latter’s reputation as an accident-prone industry.

Almost a third (32.8 per cent) of those involved in an accident at work were absent from work for three days or less, while those absent from work for 21 days or more amounted to 18.5 per cent.

In the period under review, 72.3 per cent of those involved in a non-fatal accident at work were Maltese.

Almost one third (30 per cent) of the injuries at work affected the back, including spine and vertebra. Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, sprains and strains were the most common types of injuries.

In the first half of 2023, 30 per cent of the accidents at work took place in enterprises with 500 or more employees.

In 2022, 845 non-fatal accidents per 100,000 employed persons were reported. The highest standardised incidence rate of non-fatal accidents at work was recorded in manufacturing followed by construction, and transportation and storage.

Only one fatal accident at the workplace was reported during the first half of 2023, in stark contrast to the nine deaths reported during the first half of the previous year.