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IN 2005 the Balearics had a total of 78.87 accidents in the workplace per 1'000 workers which was more than in 2004 when the figure was 74.24, according to the Balearic minister for labour, Cristobal Huguet, who admitted that “a greater effort” could have been made to improve this situation. The minister explained that, in absolute numbers, there were 26'571 incidents last year, some 10.3 percent more than in 2004, an increase which he said was due to the rise in the number of workers from 319'959 in 2004 to 336'914 in 2005. With the exception of fatal accidents, which fell from 18 to 15, there was an increase in all types of accidents. The minister did not take much comfort from the fall in the number of deaths, emphasising that, for the Balearic Government, any death is a tragedy. The facts are: slight injuries requiring time off work rose by 10.4 percent (26'313 in 2005) and the number of incidents rose from 74.48 to 78.10 per 1'000 workers; more serious or very serious injuries rose by 8 percent (243) from 0.70 to 0.72 per 1'000 workers. In spite of the rise in these figures, the minister said that the actual amount of incidents, 78.87, was much lower than in previous years, with the exception of 2004. Taking the figures since 1999 the average number of accidents had fallen from 102.85 in 2000 to 81.63 in 2003. The proportion of incidents per 1'000 workers has also risen in all working sectors. In the construction industry it rose from 166.86 in 2004 to 173.15 in 2005; in industry from 112.81 to 117.86; in service industries from 58.34 to 60.5; and in agriculture from 40.28 to 51.92. Among the islands, Majorca recorded the least amount of accidents (80.71, but still more than 2004 when the figure was 76.67), followed by Minorca (86.85 from 79.29 in 2004) and Ibiza and Fomentera (88, slightly less than 2004 when there were 88.2). The positive aspect of the figures is that there were less serious accidents in agriculture (from 8 in 2004 to 4 in 2005) and in the service industries (from 102 to 90). The minister recognised that everyone involved in the struggle to prevent accidents in the workplace could have made a “greater effort” and announced stricter controls on companies which do not comply with the law. Another study by the Ministry showed that the typical accident in the workplace victim is: a man between 25 and 29 years old who is a construction worker with a temporary contract and who has been with the company less than three months. Wounds are usually minor, mainly dislocations or sprains of the upper body limbs caused by movement accompanied by physical effort, normally occurring on Mondays between 10am and midday. This is the typical accident, based on the incidents occurring last year. In the light of these figures, the minister highlighted the necessity for everyone concerned with the prevention of danger in the workplace to be vigilant. He said this applied especially to those in charge of young people as it is they who usually have a lesser perception of danger.