Catalonia closed the first quarter of 2026 with 19 fatal work accidents during working hours and another eight deaths in work-related commutes, the so-called "in itinere" accidents. The balance places the community as the second in Spain with the most deaths at work, only behind Andalusia.
The main gap is in the total volume of accidents. While in those three months around 19,000 work accidents with sick leave were registered, the majority were minor, but the period also left more than a hundred serious cases and 27 deaths between working hours and commutes to or from work.
Barcelona accounted for 13 of the 19 fatal accidents during working hours
The province of Barcelona accounted for 13 of the 19 work-related deaths that occurred during working hours between January and March. Tarragona added three cases, Lleida two, and Girona one.
This distribution leaves Barcelona as the main territorial focus of work-related mortality in Catalonia at the start of the year. In parallel, the data for the quarter reflects that accidents were not limited to fatal ones, as around 19,000 work accidents with sick leave were recorded in Catalonia as a whole.
"In itinere" accidents raised the number of work-related deaths in the quarter to 27
To the 19 fatal victims registered during working hours, eight more deaths were added in work-related commutes. These are the accidents known as "in itinere," which occurred on the journeys to or from the workplace.
Along with the deaths, the quarter left a broader picture of severity. The majority of accidents with sick leave were minor, although more than a hundred serious cases were registered in Catalonia.
Unions are demanding more occupational safety measures to reduce accidents and prevent new victims. Their request comes after Catalonia ranked second nationally in the number of work-related deaths, only behind Andalusia.
The highest figure by province corresponds to Barcelona, where 13 of the 19 fatal work accidents that occurred during working hours in the first quarter of 2026 were concentrated.