Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1499169
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 MAY 2023 NEWS More fines and inspections result in less work injuries JAMES DEBONO A statistical analysis of work- place injuries and fatalities be- tween 2002 and 2022 carried out by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority suggests that fines and inspections are the best instrument to reduce these incidents. The analysis published in the OHSA's annual report shows that the number of yearly inju- ries is inversely proportional to the number of inspections, the number of administrative fines, the monetary value of fines and the number of initiated prose- cutions. "This analysis showed that yearly injuries are negatively and significantly related with the number of inspections car- ried out, the number of ad- ministrative fines issued, the monetary value of fines and the number of vetted equipment certificates." On the other hand, the rela- tionship between awareness campaigns and the injury rate is weaker. The report also found that the appointment of project supervi- sors has had a negligible impact on improvements in the ob- served rates of accidents. During 2022, OHSA Officers carried out 4,387 workplace inspections. OHS Officers also issued a total of 662 orders to stop work activities. Further- more 462 letters of intimation were issued to parties deemed in breach of legislation, result- ing in a total of €177,000 fines being imposed. The statistical analysis shows that injuries in the construction and the transport sectors for which a benefit is claimed are significantly higher than in oth- er sectors. The statistics do not refer to unreported incidents. While accidents in the con- struction sector averaged at 36.2 injuries per 1000 workers each year and those in the transport and storage sector were slightly higher at 36.4, incidents in the manufacturing sector averaged at 27.2 per 1000 workers and those in the accommodation and food sector averaged at 19.2. Incidents in the wholesale, retail and repair sector averaged at 11 injuries each year. The OHSA's annual report refers to the "long-term down- ward trends in both the num- ber and more significantly, the rate of industrial injuries" while noting that incidents in oth- er sectors remain significantly higher. Over the years it was the manufacturing sector which registered the largest decrease. Fatalities highest in construc- tion The statistics show that con- struction deaths account for the majority of workplace fatalities. Of the average 3.37 workers out of 100,000 workers who have lost their life during the past two decades 2.02 fatalities occurred in the construction industry and 1.17 occured be- cause of dangerous falls and 0.75 fatalities involved foreign workers in the construction in- dustry. The report refers to the 15 fa- tal workplace accidents in 2022, all of which were the subject of a magisterial inquiry. All fatal ac- cidents involved male workers and six workers were of foreign nationality. Twelve fatalities in- volved workers engaged by an employer, whilst the remaining three were self-employed. Eight fatalities occurred in the con- struction industry. Statistical report suggests that fines and inspections are more effective than awareness raising in curbing workplace incidents The collapsed building at the Corradino Industrial Estate that claimed the life of Jean Paul Sofia last December while construction work was underway