A leading trade union has claimed that the number of work-related deaths in Ireland exceeds the official figures and has called on the Government to acknowledge this.
Siptu made the claim at a Health and Safety (HSA) conference being held in Dublin today.
“According to International Labour Organisation statistics these [work-related deaths] amount to approximately 1,400 per year, yet Ireland’s official statistics average around 60 fatalities per year,” said Siptu safety and health adviser Sylvester Cronin.
“Ireland’s official statistics count only those workers killed as a result of an accident inside the workplace. They omit to count deaths caused by work-related illnesses and diseases. They also exclude work-related deaths caused by road traffic accidents.”
But Mary Dorgan, HSA assistant chief executive, said the Siptu figure was based on an assumption that about 5 per cent of a country’s deaths can be attributed to their work, a percentage she said was widely used in Europe.
Ms Dorgan noted that occupational illnesses are significant and increasing but said that the 5 per cent assumed figure “is not hugely helpful”.
She added: “We accept that the whole issue of occupational illness is a very complicated area. There is not a good system for recording or reporting it – or diagnosing it. . . . and it is often invisible”.
An expert group, commissioned by the HSA, recently drew up a national strategy on workplace health and well-being, and Ms Dorgan said there were plans to improve the system of reporting and recording these illnesses.
The strategy highlights a several illnesses that significantly affect people at work, including musculoskeletal disorders, mental health issues that may result from workplace bullying and stress, and health issues in relation to noise and vibration, dermatitis, asthma and cancers.
Mr Cronin of Siptu also criticised workplace inspections, saying that in a survey done by the union, almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of its safety representatives, said that their employer was aware that the HSA was going to carry out a workplace inspection.
“Yet under current occupational safety and health legislation there is no requirement for the HSA to give prior notice of workplace inspections.”
Mr Cronin said that with 200,000 workplaces and 14,000 inspections a year “a work place in Ireland can expect a visit, on average, once every 14.5 years”.
However, Ms Dorgan said she “absolutely refuted” the claim that workplaces were informed that inspections were to take place.
“Over 90 per cent of inspections were done without any warning or notification,” she said, pointing out that it was essential to notify some workplaces, such as hospitals, of an impending inspection.
Siptu has urged the Government to make it mandatory to report all work-related illnesses and diseases that cause more that three day absences from work, “so that their steady increase over the past decade can be halted and reversed,” Mr Cronin added.
“According to recent Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures the number of work-days lost due to work-related illnesses and diseases has grown from 1.3 million in 2003 to 1.7m in 2006.” Mr Cronin said he expected the final figure for 2007 to be even higher.
Speaking at the National Safety Representative Conference hosted by the HSA in Croke Park, Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher said the level of occupational illness has been steadily increasing over the past number of years, adding it is now a “serious issue” for Irish workplaces.
“The focus for most employers up to now has been on the safety element of health and safety. However, the health and well-being of workers is just as important as their physical safety, and I urge all employers to give this the attention it deserves.”
HSA chief executive Martin O’Halloran added: “Illnesses related to work are becoming increasingly common in Irish workplaces. The prevention of accidents is . . . important but I’m calling today on all organisations to give equal focus to worker health and well-being.”
