- Non-traumatic occupational accidents may include workers who have died from a heart attack, stroke or fainting. Since last year the percentage of deaths like these has increased. LAB reports that behind all occupational accidents there are working conditions and work characteristics: "Fast rhythms, pressures, workloads..." Most traumatic deaths have occurred in the construction sector, almost all falls from height.
In 2022, 69 workers died, one more than in 2021. Although the majority resulted from work accidents, there have been 23 non-traumatic deaths.
The LAB trade union has published as every year the list of deceased workers and casuistry. It recognizes both those who died in the Basque Country and those who died abroad while working temporarily. Twenty workers have died in Navarra, nineteen in Guipúzcoa, fifteen in Vizcaya, nine in Álava, one in Lapurdi and one in Baja Navarra. In addition, four workers who worked temporarily outside the Basque Country have died.
Deaths by sector
Of the 69 deaths, fifteen have been in industrial work, ten of them by accident and five by non-traumatic causes. The construction sector has recorded the most traumatic deaths, with 13 and 11 falls from high.
Ten workers have died during transport: five from traffic accidents and five from non-traumatic causes.
Eight primary sector workers have also died, half of them due to accidents in forestry work. The remaining deaths occur in the tertiary sector.
In total, six workers died on round-trip travel.
Although the LAB list did not specify age in twelve cases, most deaths were between 40 and 60 years of age (37). Five were under 30 and five were over 60.