28 Apr Worker safety needs to be prioritised

Workers’ Memorial Day – 28 April 2026

Today, Tuesday 28, April 2026, we mark Workers’ Memorial Day, a national day in which we remember those who have died, been injured or made seriously ill as a result of work.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), along with colleagues from NISO, Ibec and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), gathered today at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin city centre to mark Workers’ Memorial Day.

Across the ten-year period from 2016 to 2025, 456 people in Ireland died in work-related incidents. Many more suffered life changing injuries or occupational illness. In 2025 alone, 63 people died in workplace incidents, a 75% increase on the 36 people who lost their lives in 2024.

Commenting on Workers’ Memorial Day, Fergal McKevitt, NISO President, said:

“Workers’ Memorial Day is an important opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives or been impacted by work-related incidents. It also reminds us of the need to keep safety and health at the forefront in every workplace. Continued focus on the basics and working together remains key to preventing incidents and protecting workers.”

Speaking at today’s Workers’ Memorial Day event, Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon TD, said:

“Today is a solemn day of remembrance, but it also acts as a call to responsibility. It calls on all of us – government, employers, workers, and society as a whole – to reflect on pro-active measures taken and what more we can do to prevent tragedy and protect lives.  If we are to truly honour those we have lost, we must do so not only with words, but with action. We must continue to strengthen our commitment to workplace safety. We must ensure that protections are not just written into policy, but lived out in practice, every single day, in every workplace.”

As part of Workers’ Memorial Day, NISO, Congress, the HSA, Ibec and the CIF are urging employers and organisations nationwide to:

• Always prioritise the safety and health of workers
• Ensure elected Safety Representatives are supported and consulted
• Actively support worker participation and consultation on safety matters
• Use available guidance and tools to strengthen safety and health management

The Health and Safety Authority provides free guidance and tools to support safety initiatives, including:

• BeSMART.ie – an online risk assessment tool.
• HSALearning.ie – free online safety courses across multiple sectors.
• Work Positive – a psychosocial risk management toolkit supporting employee wellbeing.

We encourage you to take time today to reflect, to honour those we have lost and to continue striving for safer and healthier workplaces for all.

Read the HSA Press Release in full here: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/news_events_media/news/press_releases_2026/workers-memorial-day-highlights-the-ongoing-need-for-worker-safety-to-be-prioritised/