Safety laws must be enforced

WITH depressing regularity, the construction sector and agriculture continue to be Ireland’s most lethal industries.

As the year comes to a close, it is disturbing to learn that 65 people died in the workplace in 2003, three more than last year according to the annual toll of fatal work-related accidents issued by the Health and Safety Authority.

What is particularly alarming about the deaths of 18 people in farming accidents and forestry is that most were predictable and should have been preventable.