In 2023

Number of accidents at work in the Region increased by 1.3% compared to 2022

According to data provided to the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) by the Regional Directorate for Labour and Labour Inspection (DRTAI), a total of 4 320 accidents at work were recorded in the Autonomous Region of Madeira in 2023, representing an increase of 1.3% (+55 accidents) compared to 2022. Among these, three fatal accidents were registered, the same number as in the previous year.

The “Construction” sector accounted for the highest proportion of accidents (24.0% of the total), followed by “Accommodation and food service activities” (17.8%) and “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” (12.9%). In absolute terms, the “Construction” sector recorded the largest increase compared to 2022, with 31 more accidents. Conversely, “Administrative and support service activities”, which accounted for 7.3% of total accidents, recorded the largest absolute decrease, with 25 fewer accidents (-7.3% compared to 2022).

Analysing the data by gender and age groups, it is observed that in 2023, the majority of accidents involved men (73.2%) and persons aged between 35 and 54 years (50.8%). In terms of occupational groups, “Building and related trades workers, excluding electricians” (666 accidents; 15.4%) and “Personal service workers” (466 accidents; 10.8%) recorded the highest number of incidents.

Regarding the location of accidents, 22.2% of the accidents occurred in “Tertiary activity areas, offices, amusement area, miscellaneous” (957 accidents), 21.3% in “Industrial sites” (922 accidents), and 19.2% in “Construction site, construction, opencast quarry, opencast mine” (831 accidents). The main cause of accidents was “Body movement under physical stress”, accounting for 29.1% of all recorded cases (1 256 accidents).  

The primary injury mechanisms continued to be “Physical or mental stress” (26.8%; 1 156 accidents), followed by “Horizontal or vertical impact with or against a stationary object” (19.9%; 860 accidents).

As for the consequences of accidents, “Wounds and superficial injuries” and “Dislocations, sprains and strains” were the most frequently reported injuries, accounting for 48.3% and 39.7% of the total, respectively. Approximately three in every five accidents affected either the “Upper extremities” (35.6%) or the “Lower extremities” (27.8%).

Regarding the number of days of work absence, it is noteworthy that 26.5% of non-fatal accidents resulted in no absence from work. A total of 133 969 days of lost work due to accidents at work, with the 7 to 13-day absence interval accounting for 16.5% of all non-fatal incidents. The highest number of workdays lost occurred in the “Construction” sector (36 274 days; 27.1% of total days lost), followed by “Accommodation and food service activities” (20 298 days; 15.2%).  

On average, 31 workdays were lost per accident. The sectors with the highest average number of days lost per incident were “Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel and production activities for own use” (54 days), “Agriculture, animal production, hunting, forestry and fishing” (47 days), and “Mining and quarrying” (46 days).

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