Dramatic reduction in workplace deaths as numbers drop 25% to 43

THERE was a 25% reduction in the number of workplace deaths in 2009, according to the Health and Safety Authority’s latest annual report.

There were 43 deaths reported to the authority last year, compared with 57 in 2008.

The HSA said the reduction could not simply be attributed to the downturn in the numbers of people in employment as it pointed out the worker fatality rate had also dropped to two fatalities per 100,000 workers.

“Both the number of fatalities and the worker fatality rate are the lowest recorded since the authority began its work in 2009,” it said.

The construction and agriculture sectors still have the highest number and rates of fatalities, though in agriculture the 11 deaths were 50% lower than in 2008.

However, in construction, while the number of deaths fell from 15 in 2008 to 10 in 2009, there was actually an increase in the fatality rate given the massive decline in construction employees.

Of the 43 deaths last year, 18 were vehicle-related and of those, 14 occurred in the workplace and the rest on the road.

The HSA report reveals there were 6,707 non-fatal accidents in 2009, the lowest since 1997. The most common accident trigger was manual handling, which accounted for 26% of non-fatal incidents. One concern was that the number of incidents triggered by violence or aggression increased from 1% in 2008 to 3% last year.

The report showed that during 2009 the Authority conducted 18,451 workplace inspections, an increase of 15% on the numbers carried out in 2008.

Labour Affairs Minister Dara Calleary said the reduction in workplace deaths during 2009 was welcome, but that further reductions could be achieved by continuing to increase awareness and simplifying compliance.

HSA chief executive Martin O’Halloran said there was a specific emphasis on support in the inspection programme for 2009.

“The main focus of our inspections is to help workplaces improve health and safety standards, with the overall goal of reducing accidents.

“Where we found employers willing to improve we provided assistance. However, enforcement action was taken as appropriate against those showing disregard for worker safety, health and welfare.”