Note:

Press release revised on 06/05/2024 due to data rectification carried out by the source, following the delayed update of data reported by an insurance company.

In 2021

Number of accidents at work in the Region increased compared to 2020 but remained lower than the 2019 figures

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) made available today on its website the statistical data series on Accidents at work, updated with the information from 2021.

According to the data provided by the Regional Directorate of Labour and Inspection Action (DRTAI) to DREM, in 2021, there were 3,687 accidents at work in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, up by 29.0% (+829 accidents) than in 2020, but down by 2.4% over 2019 (-91 accidents). Of the accidents that occurred in 2021, there were 3 fatal accidents, the same number as the previous year. It is important to consider that the higher restrictions on economic activity implemented in 2020 may have influenced the evolution of accidents from 2020 to 2021.

The "Construction" sector accounted for the highest number of accidents (23.8% of the total), followed by the "Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles" sector, with 13.9%, and the "Accommodation and food service activities", with 13.7%. The "Construction" sector recorded the largest absolute increase compared to 2020 (an increase of 190 accidents). In contrast, the "Water collection, treatment and distribution; sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities" observed the largest absolute decrease, with 14 fewer accidents (-13.6% than in 2020), representing 2.4% of the total accidents. Compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019, there was a decrease of 211 accidents in the " Accommodation and food service activities" and an increase of 159 accidents in the "Construction" sector.

By gender and age groups, it is observed that in 2021, the majority of accidents occurred among men (72.5%) and in persons aged between 35 and 54 years (53.6%). The occupational groups with the highest number of injuries were "Building and Related Trades Workers (excluding Electricians)" (597 accidents; 16.2%) and "Refuse Workers and Other Elementary Workers" (322 accidents; 8.7%).

Regarding the location of accidents, 20.0% of the accidents occurred in "Industrial areas" (737 accidents) and 18.3% in " Construction site, construction, opencast quarry, opencast mine " (674 accidents). The most common cause of accidents was " Body movement under or with physical stress (generally leading to an internal injury) " (29.9% of the total accidents; 1,104).

The main direct events causing injury to the casualties were " Physical or mental stress " (26.1%; 964 accidents) and " Horizontal or vertical impact with or against a stationary object " (19.0%; 702 accidents).  

As for the consequences of the accidents, it is noted that " Wounds and Superficial Injuries" and "Dislocations, Sprains and Strains" were the most prominent injuries, accounting for 48.0% and 41.0% of the total, respectively, in 2021. More than half of the accidents affected the "Upper extremities" or "Lower extremities" (32.0% and 26.6%, respectively).  

Regarding the number of days of absence from work, it should be noted that 24.6% of non-fatal accidents did not involve any absence from work. Among the others, the range of 7 to 13 days of absence stood out for 17.6% of the total non-fatal accidents. The highest number of days of work lost due to accidents at work occurred in the "Construction" sector (32,626 days, 27.5% of the total days lost).

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