Newsroom
Cyprus has recorded three serious workplace accidents since mid-September, including one fatality, with authorities warning that inadequate safety precautions during work at height remain a major risk for employees.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at a factory in Larnaca, where a 31-year-old man was critically injured while three workers were carrying out repairs to a shelter roof.
The men were installing metal sheeting at a height of approximately six metres when the accident happened. Inspectors from the Department of Labour Inspection attended the scene shortly afterwards to document the conditions and collect witness accounts before any evidence could be disturbed.
The precise circumstances remain under investigation, including whether the required safety measures had been implemented.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Department's Deputy Director, Tasoula Kyprianidou, identified working at height as the most frequent cause of workplace accidents.
She said safety precautions were sometimes overlooked during smaller jobs, despite the risks involved. Workers must be properly protected regardless of how limited a task may appear, she stressed, citing safety harnesses and protective structures as essential measures.
The Larnaca incident is the third serious workplace accident reported since mid-September. One of the three cases resulted in a worker's death, while the other two left four people seriously injured and requiring hospital treatment.
Investigations are also continuing into an accident in Strovolos on October 9, which injured three workers.
The Department currently employs 23 inspectors responsible for all districts of Cyprus. They carry out approximately 5,000 workplace inspections each year. So far, inspections have been completed at 47,000 of the estimated 130,000 premises eligible for examination.
Kyprianidou confirmed that additional staffing was considered necessary and that approval procedures had begun for 15 more inspector positions.
She said the Department's responsibilities extend beyond enforcement and inspections, with public awareness and the promotion of a strong workplace safety culture also forming an important part of its work.
Despite the latest incidents, the Department's figures show an encouraging long-term trend. The rate of workplace accidents resulting in employees being absent for more than three days has declined over the past decade.
