Sharp rise in fishermen and builder deaths

A huge hike in the number of builders and fishermen killed on the job was today blamed for an overall jump in workplace deaths.

Newly-released official figures show that 67 people died in work-related accidents last year – a 34% rise, or a third more, on the year before.

But the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said there was a significant cut in the number of workers being killed in farming accidents.

Martin O’Halloran, the authority’s chief executive officer, said agricultural deaths were down – by almost 40% – to 11 last year from 18 in 2006.

“While the sharp reduction in agriculture fatalities is most welcome, we are seriously concerned at the increase in other sectors, particularly construction and fishing,” he said.

There were 18 people killed on construction sites during the past year compared to 12 the previous year, according to the HSA figures.

A devastating year of high-profile tragedies that rocked the country’s coastal communities saw a huge jump in deaths in the fishing industry.

The sinking of the Pere Charles and Honeydew II last year and the Maggie B in March 2006 off the south-east coast, and the death of a father and son in Donegal Bay last month, contributed to the rise in fishing deaths from two in 2006 to 12 last year.

“The Authority will continue to focus its resources in these and other high-risk sectors and they will feature prominently in our activities for 2008 and beyond,” said Mr O’Halloran.

The HSA chief insisted the release of a Farm Safety Code of Practice in late 2006, along with other campaigns and training programmes, was behind the drop in farming deaths.

The most common triggers for overall workplace deaths were falls, collapses or breakages of material (16) and falls from height (10), according to the HAS report.

Five deaths were blamed on loss of control of transport or handling equipment while seven fatalities were presumed drowned.

Waterford recorded the highest number of work-related deaths, with eight out of the ten fatalities there during the year down to fishing tragedies.

Dublin had the second worst record with nine workers dying in accidents related to their job.

More than 7000 non-fatal work injuries were reported to the HSA during the year, the most common being blamed on handling, lifting and carrying followed by slips, trips and falls.

“A huge amount of work has been done to raise awareness and promote good practice and we will continue to work with employer and employee organisations in our goal of making workplace safety, health and welfare an integral part of doing business in every workplace in modern Ireland,” said Mr O’Halloran.