Workplace accidents increase in the Region of Murcia

Despite the general increase, serious or fatal accidents during the working day have decreased compared to 2017

The Region of Murcia has recorded one fatal accident at work during the month of January, while two were recorded in the same period of the previous year, according to the Workplace Accident Bulletin of the employers' association Croem.

Specifically, there were a total of 1,561 work-related accidents with sick leave during the month of January, of which 1,366 occurred during the working day and 195 were accidents in transit. Compared to the same period last year, there was a 14.5 percent increase in the total number of accidents with sick leave. Of these, those occurring during the working day registered an increase of 13.5 percent, while the number of accidents in transit was 21.9 percent.

According to severity, 1,356 minor accidents were recorded during working hours, 165 more than the previous year, 9 serious accidents, 1 less than in 2017, and one fatal accident during working hours, one less than in January of last year.

By activity sector, the services sector was the one that presented the highest number of accidents with sick leave during working hours (613), followed by agriculture (322), industry (295) and construction (136).

The 1,366 work-related accidents with sick leave during working hours meant an Incidence Rate of 294.7 accidents per 100,000 workers per month, 8.8% more than in the first month of 2017.

According to Croem, 192 minor accidents in itinere were recorded, 32 more than the previous year, three serious accidents, three more than in 2017, and no fatal accidents were recorded. In addition, 55 reports of occupational diseases with sick leave were reported, 19 more than in the same period in 2017, experiencing an increase of 52.8%.

In light of these data, Croem highlights that 2018 has started “with an increase in workplace accidents (+14.5 percent) as occurred in the previous year.” This trend in workplace accidents “was reflected in the same terms in terms of national data, whose increase reached 9.6% compared to January 2017.”

However, the first month of 2018 "has left several positive data, including the reduction in work accidents in the agricultural sector (-0.3 percent) and also the decreases in relation to serious and fatal accidents with sick leave during working hours (-10 and 50 percent respectively)."

The Incidence Rate is higher (+8.8 percent) than that obtained in the same period of the previous year. Even so, "it is too early to be able to make assessments on the statistical data on work accidents and the short period of time compared must be taken into account, which may not be statistically representative," adds the employers' association.