Concern over occupational accidents

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority has expressed concern over the high number of accidents that continue to occur in the workplace.

It said such accidents had social, economic and financial costs that were not immediately apparent.

The National Statistics Office said recently that 1,130 accidents at work were reported to the Department of Social Security in the last quarter of 2002.

The figures show that 1,003 men (88.8 per cent) and 127 women (11.2 per cent) - practically the same as the fourth quarter of 2001 - fell victim to an accident in the course of their work.

Occupational accidents could be reduced significantly by carrying out a risk assessment and adopting safe systems of work, which, in the majority of cases, were inexpensive to implement, the OHSA said.

Employers were duty bound by law to carry out such risk assessments, to update them on a regular basis and to present them to occupational health and safety officers during an inspection, the OHSA said.

Further details on risk assessments are found in the newly published legal notice 36 of 2003, dealing with general provisions for health and safety at workplaces.

"Many employers mistakenly believe their insurance covers all expenses. In reality, many policies do not cover losses such as reduced production, replacement labour and legal fees."

Further information is available from the Occupational Health and Safety Authority on tel. 21 247677, or e-mail ohsa@gov.mt.