SIPTU says workplace death figures are conservative

Ireland's largest trade union says the official figure for workplace deaths could be grossly underestimated.

SIPTU says the statistics, which put the figure at around 60 per year, are conservative and the actual number of deaths could be as high as 500.

It says many deaths that occur outside the workplace, such as work-related traffic accidents or cancer cases, are not counted in the official figure.

The union is launching a new guide today on the role of safety representatives in the workplace.