The increase in deaths due to work accidents puts the Labor Inspection on guard

One of the explanations put forward by experts in the field is the increase in activity – the growth of employment – which is causing a proportional increase in workplace accidents. However, sources of the Labor Inspection consulted by ABC recognize that despite the increase in occupation, neither the ordinary action plans carried out annually, nor the special campaigns, nor the reinforcement of troops deployed in recent years are serving to reverse a trend that “worries.” » and is leading the supervisory body to expand avenues of action.

The Inspection explains that there are several factors that come together in this situation beyond the supervisory work assigned to the different departments at the territorial level. They point to the poor level of concern among companies for the application of prevention measures, on the one hand, and also to the low level of culture at the worker level of the importance of having adequate materials and plans.

Regarding this complementarity that surrounds the work accidents The shock plan that was carried out in 2021 was articulated, with special emphasis on the construction and transportation sectors, and launched the incorporation of the body of sub-inspectors dedicated exclusively to the supervision of the material necessary in work environments. .

From the Labor Inspection union, Jesus Prietoexplains that the organization is providing resources. He points out that not only in very serious and fatal cases, but that cases considered serious that can be the cause of absolute disability, and even lead to death in the medium term, have been investigated for years.

For his part, the partner lawyer of Frago y Suárez, Juan Antonio Frago Amadaexplains on the subject that there are more cases of death and fatal injuries related to work. “Fundamentally, the number of accidents in construction and heavy industry is increasing,” he points out, pointing out about the size of the affected companies that large ones tend to have more controls, which nothing prevents, precisely because they undertake larger works, “from suffering the same risks.” than small businesses, where controls are conspicuous by their absence or are merely cosmetic.

More accidents in the service sector

According to data from the Ministry, the majority of fatal accidents occur due to heart attacks and strokes, entrapments and amputations, blows resulting from a worker falling, and traffic accidents. fatal accidents during work day rose 8.1% in the first nine months of the year, with 466 deaths recorded, 35 more than in the same period of 2023, while accidents ‘in itinere’ resulting in death increased by 15.1%, to a total of 107 deaths, 14 more than between January and September 2023.

Among the fatal accidents during the work day, the services sector recorded the highest number of deaths, 239, with an increase of 17.2% compared to the period between January and September 2023. The number of fatal accidents also increased compared to the first nine months of last year. constructionwhere 104 workers died, 12 more than in 2023 (+13%), and industry, where 79 workers died, one more than in the same period of the previous year (+1.3%). On the other hand, fatal accidents decreased in the agriculturewith 44 deaths, 13 less than until September 2023 (-22.8%).

«There are jobs that are dangerous, such as work at high altitudes, deep-sea divers, etc., while there are more common jobs, such as driving a tractor, but which can also cause death or serious injuries in the same way. The prevention mitigatesbut it is almost impossible to avoid any harmful result,” explains Frago y Suárez’s partner lawyer about the circumstances.

In this sense, the Labor Inspection points out the need to keep track of the controls and to raise and apply sanctions to generate greater awareness among companies and workers, since the organization is already in a context of expanding human resources aimed at monitoring and preventing fatal results in workplace accidents.