AMPUTATIONS, acute poisoning, open fractures, internal injuries and even frostbite – it's all in a hard year's work for hundreds of Ireland's county council staff.

Whether it's as a result of falling, losing control of vehicles or animals, gas emissions or even suffering a bad fright or shock – hundreds of local authority staff report work place accidents every year.

Figures obtained by the Sunday Tribune show a long list of mishaps and misfortunes, involving a wide diversity of professionals and injuries.

Over the last two years, there have been just under 850 workplace accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) on behalf of local authority staff.

Accidents suffered by council staff members must, by law, be reported to the HSA in accordance with requirements set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 1993.

Sprains and strains account for nearly half the total number of injuries suffered by workers. There are a wide variety of recorded injuries including anything from damaged vertebrae and spines to those who suffer from a "fright" or neck injuries as a result of splinters, fragments and other debris.

Over 2007 and 2008 there were a total of 87 closed fractures, 125 superficial injuries, 69 open wounds, 35 acute infections and 92 conditions of an unknown nature.

Other accidents and
ailments, included to a lesser extent, were staff who suffered multiple injuries from incidents, dislocations, concussions and internal injuries, burns, scalds, frostbite and open fractures while a total of four amputations were carried out.

The majority of workers affected by workplace mishaps were labourers with 328 incidents, working across a variety of areas including mining, construction, manufacturing, transport, agriculture and fishing.

Staff defined as "personal and protective services workers" – which means general operatives – were the second highest group of victims with a total of 268 reported accidents and injuries over the two-year period.

Building trades workers, drivers and mobile plant operators also featured in the higher levels of those who suffered injuries.

Under legislation, workers injured during the course of their job and who are unable to return to work after three days must inform the HSA of the nature of their accident or illness.