Workplace accidents fall by almost half in a decade

Workplace accidents in Cyprus have fallen by nearly half over the past decade, Labour Minister Marinos Mousioutas said on Tuesday, while warning that more needs to be done to eliminate fatalities and address emerging risks in the labour market.

In an address marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work, he said cooperation between social partners and the state had yielded “significant results”, with accident rates dropping by around 48 per cent between 2014 and 2025.

“Despite this, workplace incidents continue to occur and we must intensify our efforts to achieve the Vision 0 goal of zero fatal accidents,” he said.

Mousioutas stressed the need for stronger action to safeguard both the physical safety and mental wellbeing of employees, noting that this year’s global observance focuses on psychosocial risks in the workplace.

“The event aims to raise public awareness about occupational safety and health and to honour those who lost their lives due to workplace accidents or occupational diseases,” he said, adding that it should also serve as “a trigger for deep reflection on the goals not achieved and the lives lost”.

He warned that new challenges stemming from technological advances, climate change and demographic shifts are reshaping workplace risks.

“Taking into account these new risks, we must step up efforts to protect workers’ safety and health, which is a fundamental social right,” he said.

Highlighting psychosocial factors, the minister pointed to issues such as workload, role clarity, autonomy and fair procedures as key determinants of employee wellbeing. He also described workplace violence and harassment as a “serious problem” and a recognised health and safety risk affecting both physical and psychological wellbeing.

Citing a 2024 European survey, Mousioutas said there is a shortage of specialised personnel to identify and manage psychosocial risks, while six in ten employees hesitate to speak openly about such issues.

“This makes coordinated action between social partners and the state even more urgent,” he said.

He concluded by paying tribute to victims of workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

“It is our duty to ensure that every worker returns home to their family and loved ones safe and unharmed,” he said.

SEK union chief Andreas Matsas said the annual event on workplace safety is part of a global effort to raise awareness and mobilise social partners to reduce and ultimately eliminate workplace accidents.

He pointed to factors such as increased work intensity, uncertainty, role overload and the impact of digitalisation and automation as creating additional pressures on workers.

“The labour market is changing in a way that requires us to take into account many factors that may have been underestimated in the past,” he said.

Matsas called for more targeted safeguards through collective agreements and stronger mechanisms to assess workplace risks, while urging broader implementation of health and safety committees.

Meanwhile, data published by Eurostat on Tuesday showed that 1,314 non-fatal workplace accidents were recorded in Cyprus in 2023, corresponding to a frequency rate of 304.54 per 100,000 workers, marking a notable decline from 1,529 incidents and a rate of 498.09 in 2013.

The highest number of accidents were recorded in the accommodation and food services sector (282 cases), followed by construction (218) and manufacturing (199).