THE NUMBER of work-related deaths recorded last year rose by 15 per cent with the agriculture sector again accounting for the majority of fatalities.
New figures from the Health and Safety Authority show there were 55 workplace deaths in 2011, compared to 48 in 2010.
A record low of 43 fatalities was recorded in 2009.
“This is the second year in a row that the total number of workplace fatalities has increased. The fact is that behind these statistics there are human tragedies, lives lost and families ruined,” said the authority’s chief executive Martin O’Halloran.
“Everyone has the right to go to work without danger to their safety or health,” he added.
The agriculture sector accounted for more than a third of all work-related deaths last year with 22 fatalities. This compares to 25 deaths in the preceding year.
From 2008 to 2011, a total of 74 deaths have been recorded on Irish farms.
The high fatality rate in agriculture has led the authority to increase inspections and safety awareness-raising activities in the sector.
A new hard-hitting advertising campaign aimed at encouraging farmers to stop taking risks has just been launched. The campaign features Norman Bradley (46), a tillage farmer from Fenagh, Co Carlow, who lost his arm 12 years ago when it got trapped in a beet chopping machine.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio yesterday, Mr Bradley said he hoped his participation in the ad would lead others to think twice about what they were doing while out working.
According to the figures, the second largest number of work-place deaths last year was in the transport and storage sector where eight fatalities took place, an increase from three a year earlier.
In the construction sector there were six deaths last year, the same number reported in 2010.
Workplace deaths in the sector have more than halved since 2008 when 15 deaths were recorded.
Over 25 per cent of all workplace deaths recorded in 2011 occurred in Co Cork where 14 fatalities were reported. The second highest number of deaths was in Co Tipperary, where five people died.
The lowest number of work-related deaths was in counties Roscommon, Cavan, Laois, Kildare, Mayo and Waterford.
From 2001 to 2011, a total of 638 work-related deaths were reported to the authority. In addition, over 81,000 non-fatal incidents that resulted in more than three days’ absence from work have been recorded.
Last year the authority launched a “Taking Care of Business” safety campaign programme, which is aimed at the estimated 655,000 people involved in small businesses.
FATALITIES BY SECTOR
Agriculture22
Transportation and storage8
Construction6
Fishing5
Water supply, sewerage, waste management, remediation activities3
Professional, scientific and technical activities2
Manufacturing2
Wholesale, retail motor trade2
Mining, quarrying1
Accommodation, food service1
Public administration and defence1
Human health, social work activities1
Arts, entertainment, recreation1
