collision plan
In the first half of the year, work-related accidents caused 394 deaths, an increase of 60 compared with the same period last year, according to updated data from the Ministry of Labor. This figure reflects a rise of 18 percent year over year.
Among the fatal cases, 320 occurred while people were at work, 43 more than the previous period, marking a 15.5 percent rise. An additional 74 deaths happened during commuting, known as in itinere incidents, which is 17 more than the prior year and represents a 29.8 percent improvement in that category.
When looking at the causes during the daytime, natural events such as heart attacks, strokes, and other natural causes lead with 126 deaths, a figure that has grown since the first half of 2021. Other causes, including blows and suffocation, also saw notable increases, with 15 deaths in each category.
By sector, the Services industry recorded the most daily fatalities with 137 deaths, while agriculture saw a substantial jump of 58 deaths, 32 more than the first half of 2021. The construction sector reported 70 fatal accidents, 19 more than the year before.
From the totals, 353 fatal accidents involved employees, with 41 cases among the self-employed. In terms of gender, 362 of the fatalities were male and 32 were female.
The unions have filed criminal complaints for months about the rise in work accidents. From the UGT, it is emphasized that the numbers highlight a lingering neglect of occupational health and safety. They urge the government to convene a social dialogue table on occupational accidents to push for urgent action, noting that in many companies prevention mechanisms are not functioning and that accidents increase as activity rises. An agreement is expected and a shock plan is being discussed, including special protocols for working in high temperatures.
In total, 310,211 sick leave incidents were recorded in the first half of the year, up 18.2 percent compared with the same period in 2021: 273,300 working days lost and 36,911 days related to commuting.
The vast majority of daytime accidents amounted to 271,037 cases, a 20.2 percent rise. Among commuting incidents, most were minor at 36,415 cases, up 6.3 percent. There were 272,865 accidents without sick leave, reflecting a 1.7 percent increase.
Notes: The figures reflect the latest official statistics on workplace incidents and health and safety enforcement, with ongoing monitoring by labor authorities and monitoring bodies. [Ministry of Labor attribution]