Deaths at work soar above EU average

THE number of work-related deaths, which in 2007 jumped by almost a third to 67, is among the highest in the European Union, warned the Health and Safety Authority.

The number of days lost to work-related injury and illness has been increasing steadily since 2003 and illness, rather than injury, causes more days’ absence from work.

The death rate compares to 51 in 2006 and 74 in 2005, among the state’s 2.1 million workers.