While the number of non-fatal work accidents has decreased by 35.5 per cent, Cyprus has seen a dramatic increase in fatal work accidents since 2017, Eurostat reported on Monday.

In Cyprus, 1,148 of the 1,335 accidents occurred in the agricultural sector, followed by the hospitality sector at 289 and the construction sector at 255 incidents with the latest figures dating to 2022.

Contrasting the decline in non-fatal accidents, fatalities recorded in 2017 and 2022, were reported to have increased by 350 per cent from two to nine incidents.

Eurostat recently published data in honour of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, focusing primarily on workplace accidents.

At the same time, Peo and the Ministry of Labour, in their statements on Monday, drew attention to the growing impact of artificial intelligence and digitalisation on workplace safety.

While emphasising that these technological advancements were reshaping the landscape of work safety, they stressed the need for proactive measures to address emerging challenges.

“Despite the announcements and targets set to reduce accidents at work, the numbers bring us face to face with the bitter reality that thousands of workers in 21st century Cyprus are injured in the workplace and most tragically, workers lose their lives for a living,” Peo said in a statement to mark the International Day of Remembrance for Industrial Accidents.

Peo urged employers to implement safety measures, noting that while AI could improve workplace safety, it also brought risks like psychological stress and system failures.

Therefore, the union said, timely regulation and monitoring to protect workers needed to be prioritised, emphasising that safeguarding them was both a legal and moral duty of employers.

The labour ministry, highlighting the benefits of digitalisation, noted that digital technologies such as remote work led to improved autonomy and flexibility of workers.

To achieve this positive aspect, digitalised workflows must be adapted to the work environment and implemented properly, the ministry said, highlighting that if not managed correctly, workers may face additional safety risks, including ergonomic and cybersecurity threats.

Cyprus’ Occupational Accident Index decreased by 2.2 per cent from 2023 to 2024, with five fatal accidents reported last year, the ministry said. However, the Eurostat figures clearly indicate an overall increase in accidents.