Workplace deaths up 20% in year

Deaths in the workplace have increased by 20% with a high rate of fatal accidents in the construction sector, it was confirmed today.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) revealed it was concerned by the number of deaths in the construction and agriculture sectors, quarrying and mining sectors and among non-Irish-national workers.

There were 73 deaths in 2005, up 20% on 2004, which was the first rise since 2000.

The HSA’s annual report showed 23 people died in construction, the highest level since 1998, and there were 18 fatalities in farming.

Safety officers also voiced their concerns over the number of deaths among elderly farmers.

Around 11 of the 73 people who died were aged over 65, with eight of these in the agriculture sector.

The authority warned this was a persistent problem on farms.

Five people died in the quarrying industry, and there was the first fatality in the mining industry for many years.

There was a disproportionate number of fatal injuries among non-Irish-national workers.

Nine of the 64 worker fatalities involved people from outside Ireland, giving a fatality rate of 5.6 per 100,000, compared with a rate of three per 100,000 Irish workers.

The report found non-Irish-national workers were particularly at risk in the construction sector.

There were more than 8,100 serious accidents reported to the authority, with 3,631 complaints investigated.

The report showed more than 13,549 inspections were carried out, a 19% rise on 2004.

The authority said there were 40 prosecutions, with fines totalling €463,338.