20 deaths at workplace in 2022, 2023

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) reported 20 fatalities at work in 2022 and 2023, the NSO said Friday.

All fatalities at work which took place in the past two years involved males. In the majority of cases, victims were either aged between 25 to 34 years or 55 years and over.

Fatal accidents at work took place mostly in the Southern Harbour district followed by the Northern Harbour district. Sixty per cent of all fatal accidents that occurred in the past two years involved Maltese nationals; with the remaining 40.0 per cent involving non-EU nationals. Three in every four of all fatal accidents at work, involved employees.

Enterprises employing 50 to 249 employees registered the highest number of fatalities at work. On the other hand, enterprises employing 250 to 499 employees did not register any fatalities at work.

More than 90 per cent of all deaths were caused by head injuries. Regarding the type of injuries suffered by the victims, during 2022 and 2023, 18 fatalities at work involved concussions and internal injuries.

During the past two years, 55 per cent of all fatalities at work occurred in the construction sector. Most fatalities at work (65.0 per cent) involved victims who were engaged in elementary occupations.

In 2022 and 2023 the incidence rate stood at 5.3 and 1.7 respectively.