Work accident deaths at lowest level in two decades

New figures from the Health and Safety Authority reveal that 37 people were killed in work-related accidents in 2018, the lowest figure since the establishment of the authority in 1989.

There were 15 work-related deaths in the farming sector, consistently the most dangerous sector, compared to 25 in 2017, a decline of 40 per cent. The second-most dangerous sector is construction, with five deaths in 2018.

The fatal accident rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 workers is also now at an all-time low.

Dr Sharon McGuinness, CEO of the Health and Safety Authority, said: “I very much welcome the decline in work related fatalities in 2018. The fatality rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 workers is particularly significant given it was as high as 6.4 per 100,000 workers in the early 1990s.

“Due to the efforts of employers, employees and key stakeholders, there has been a huge improvement in health and safety standards since then. However, with 37 people losing their lives in work related activity in 2018 there is clearly still more to be done.”