Workplace deaths rise in Catalonia in the first half of the year

BarcelonaWorkplace accidents continue their upward trend in Catalonia. After a particularly critical 2025, which left figures at a decade-high of workplace deaths, in the first semester of 2026, up to sixty work-related deaths have been registered in the Principality. According to data from the Observatory of Work and the Productive Model of the Generalitat released by Comisiones Obreras, between January and June, 43 people have lost their lives during working hours, an increase of 10.26% compared to the previous year. To this figure, seventeen accidents must be added in itinere (on the commute to or from work), 70% more than in the same period last year.

Workplace deaths have increased in a context of rising accident rates: according to the union, 99,638 workplace accidents have been confirmed in the first six months of the year. Of these, more than 47,200 have resulted in a work absence, an increase of close to 2.2% compared to the first half of 2025.

Accidents during commutes have also grown significantly (10,375 accidents), nearly 4.3% above last year's figure. As the union has denounced in a statement, the figures published by the Observatory of Work "demonstrate a structural problem, a production model and work organization problem".

"Shock plans" against accidents

The 43 deaths registered at the workplace have, according to the entity, "an intimate relationship with the organization of work". Of the total fatal incidents, 23 were due to non-traumatic causes, such as heart attacks or strokes. On the other hand, deaths due to traumatic causes have risen to eighteen, 43.75% more than a year ago. The union links the trend to "workloads and paces, and the lack of disconnection and rest and recovery time".

By sectors, services have concentrated the majority of accidents, with more than 29,900 accidents and 21 workers dead. In industry, nearly 10,300 accidents and 10 recorded deaths have occurred, while construction laments just over 6,000 accidents and 9 deaths.

To curb the escalation of workplace accidents, Comissions calls on the Catalan and Spanish administrations to develop "shock plans against accidents" that allocate more resources to the Labor Inspectorate. They also demand that companies improve the "real prevention" of occupational risks, integrating psychosocial hazards associated with work organization.

Finally, they ask to implement "safe mobility policies" to avoid "in itinere" accidents; and they insist on reducing the working day to 37.5 hours per week to "improve workers' health".