Non-fatal accidents

Administrative records show that 1,127 non-fatal accidents at work were reported in the last six months of 2023.

The majority of these non-fatal accidents occurred in the manufacturing sector (15.5 per cent). Another 141 or 12.5 per cent of the accidents occurred in the construction sector followed by the Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (136 or 12.1 per cent) (Table 1). One third of those involved in an accident at work were absent from work for 3 days or less, while those absent from work for 21 days or more amounted to 18.0 per cent (Table 2).

The largest share of accidents at work occurring during the reference period involved persons working in elementary occupations, followed by craft and related trades workers (Table 3). With respect to age cohorts, 27.3 per cent of the accidents involved persons in the 35 to 44 age-bracket (Table 4). In the period under review, 73.3 per cent of those involved in a non-fatal accident at work were Maltese (Table 5).

Almost one third (29.3 per cent) of the injuries at work affected the Back, including spine and vertebra in the back (Table 6). Wounds and superficial injuries, and dislocations, sprains and strains were the most common types of injuries, amounting to 748 and 298 cases respectively (Table 7).

In the second half of 2023, 27.6 per cent of the accidents at work took place in enterprises with 500 or more employees (Table 9).

During 2023, 740 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 (Table 11).

Fatal accidents

Between July and December 2023, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported four fatal accidents at work. There were seven fatal accidents at work in the corresponding period of 2022.