17 Jan Fewer workplace fatalities in 2016
Reduction in work-related fatalities in 2016
Forty-four people were killed in workplace accidents in 2016, representing a 21% reduction of the 56 reported in 2015, according to figures released by the Health and Safety Authority.
The number of farm fatalities remained high with 21 reported in 2016 compared to 18 in 2015.
Construction fatalities were down to nine in 2016 from 11 in 2015.
There was a reduction in the number of fishing-related deaths down to three in 2016 from five in 2015. The transportation and storage sector had one fatality compared to four in 2015.
Across all sectors, accidents involving vehicles accounted for nearly half (20) of all fatalities in 2016.
The county with the highest number of fatalities in 2016 was Cork with eight reported, followed by Kerry and Meath with four each.
The majority of work-related deaths (30) involved 25-65 year old males. However, there were nine men over 65 killed in the agriculture sector.
Addressing the continued high accident rate in the agriculture sector, Martin O’Halloran said: “The vast majority of sectors experienced a reduction in fatalities last year. However, it is clear that there is a systemic problem with safety on our farms. For the last seven years the agriculture sector has recorded the highest number of fatalities. Safety must become an integral part of farming culture, rather than an afterthought. Our farm safety walks and knowledge transfer groups are designed to effect long-term behavioural change and it is only through this type of transformation that we will see a significant reduction in farm deaths.”
Source: www.hsa.ie