Although it is often associated with a fall, impact or, for example, electric shock, the truth is a significant portion of deaths registered job positions They have nothing to do with traumatic events. In fact, nearly a third of the fatal crashes recorded in the state last year were traffic-related. cardiovascular eventsLike that heart attack or stroke that professionals suffer during their workdays.
This is also reflected in the reflection balances in work accidents Yesterday, both the Ministry of Labor and the Valencian Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (Invassat) published a statement saying, in general terms, yes. to control this scourge.
In this way, up to the last year in total 19,273 work accidents of all kinds in the state, that is 2.7% more than the previous year. However, if we take into account Average number of active employees increased by 3.1% In the same period, this figure means: The incidence has decreased.
This total is at most 19,213 people were classified as mild, Only 164 were considered serious (5.8% more). For its part, the figure The number of dead workers reached 30 two less According to the same sources, by 2022.
The notable data among the good news represented by this decrease in workplace deaths are; increase in deaths from non-traumatic causesHE They decreased during the pandemic years significantly. So, overall, heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular accidents accounted for 40% to 50% of those who died in the pit before covid came along, after the emergence of the coronavirus and the changes it caused. This figure dropped to 10% in 2021, when only one death was recorded in the labor market during working hours for this reason.
There were already six people who died from this while working in 2022, and In 2023, this figure increased to nine. So 30% of the total, but not counting the six professionals who lost their lives on the way to work (also known as travel accidents), this means: 37% of all fatal accidents occur during working hours They already fall into this category.
Reasons
According to unions, the cause of this high percentage of deaths from heart attacks and strokes in the workplace should be sought in the workplace. stress and overload As the regional head at CC OO de l’Alacantí i les Marines points out, this situation experienced by many professionals also leads to an increase in mental health problems that affect more and more employees. Javier Perez.
For his part, the general secretary of the UGT in l’Alcantí i la Marina, Yolanda Diazoften recalls that precariousness and mental health problems are interrelated, and at the same time condemns it in many cases situations are not investigated It is thought that these non-traumatic fatal accidents occur because they are unrelated to working conditions.
For your part, CEV Alicante They note that studies of reference bodies (Invassat in the case of the Valencian Community) have concluded that “in no case are such accidents (accidents due to non-traumatic causes) caused solely by occupational risk factors”; Therefore they think: The best way to prevent these is through workplace wellbeing policies. and promoting healthy living habits among working people, according to its president, Joaquín Pérez.
Construction leads in accident rate
According to the data of the Ministry of Labor, the construction sector repeated itself last year as the sector with the highest number of work accidents in the province, with a total of 2,906 accidents, an increase of almost 140 compared to the previous year. According to the same sources, these are followed by the manufacturing industry with 2,583 accidents (105 more accidents) and the trade with 2,081 accidents. The numbers recorded in public administrations are also high, with 1,378 incidents recorded; and 1,182 more people in transportation. On the other hand, companies in the energy supply sector reported only nine occupational accidents in Alicante; banks and insurance companies only 22; and real estate companies have only 38 claims compared to last year’s balance.