Work death figures ‘could be higher’

THE number of work-related deaths could be 10 times higher than what is reported, union leaders warned yesterday.

With Health and Safety Authority figures showing 50 fatalities at work during 2004, SIPTU’s health and safety officer, Sylvester Cronin, insisted official statistics did not reflect the true number of deaths.

The HSA revealed 23 people died at work in the first four months of 2005.

But Mr Cronin warned people killed while driving as part of their job were not included and it was estimated around 4% of cancer deaths were work-related.

“Because the HSA only collects data on the number of illnesses or injuries occurring in the workplace, their figures do not reflect the true level of workplace fatalities,” he said.