Worrying trend on workplace deaths

THE tragic deaths of two brothers following a work-related accident in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, on Wednesday is yet another reminder of how very dangerous workplaces can be.

Sat, 13 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Editorial

Stephen and Alan Harris were working on a sewer system when it is believed they were overcome by toxic fumes.

Eurostat figures show that Ireland is above the EU average in terms of the number of fatal accidents at work. The figures show the rate of workplace deaths here was just over four per 100,000 people employed in 2012. This compared to an EU average of just over two-and-a-half.

More recent figures show that the number of workplace deaths in Ireland hit a six-year high last year when 55 people were killed in work-related accidents, up from 47 the previous year. Five of these fatalities involved children.

Cork was the most dangerous place to work last year, with nine deaths occurring in the county. Dublin recorded eight work-related deaths and there were seven in Tipperary and six in Donegal.

There were 30 deaths on farms last year — up dramatically from 16 — but farmer organisations are opposed to proposals from Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan to link safety measures to Single Farm Payment compliance.

Dry statistics make for dull reading but we should remember that each of these numbers had a face and a name and a family too.

Virtue may be its own reward but being conscious of safety at work has great, life-sustaining rewards.