Number of deaths in workplace rises 15%

THE number of people who died in workplace incidents increased by 15% last year, with farming again proving to be the most dangerous profession.

Of 55 deaths recorded by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) last year, 22 took place on farms.

The figure for the number of deaths in agriculture actually fell by three compared with 2010, but overall, the number of workplace deaths increased 15%, with the HSA stressing that each fatality was a tragedy for the families of those involved.