by Louise Doyle
ONE person lost their life in a workplace related fatality in Donegal in 2023, while the number of deaths nationally surged.
New figures from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) show that 43 people lost their lives in work-related incidents last year.
This compares with a figure of 26 deaths in 2022.
Of the 43 workers who died in 2023, 53 per cent were self-employed, while 51 per cent were workers aged over 55.
Farming and construction saw the highest work-related fatalities last year, at 16 and ll, respectively. Both sectors accounted for over two thirds of all fatalities in 2023.
Working with vehicles and falling from heights were the leading causes of work-related deaths last year.
Of the 43 fatalities in 2023, 39 were male and four were female.
The HSA said that over the last ten years there has been a decrease in the rate of fatalities in Ireland from 2.8 per 100,000 workers in 2014 to 1.6 in 2023.
Commenting on the figures, HSA Assistant Chief Executive Mark Cullen, said his thoughts were with the families and friends of those who tragically lost a loved one in 2023.
He urged those in farming and construction to take care when at work.
“Where there is a known risk, such as working with vehicles and machinery or working at height, duty holders must take preventative actions to ensure they themselves or workers are safe.
“We are urging the self-employed, employers and duty holders to prioritise health and safety in their workplaces in 2024 to ensure fatalities don’t happen. Every work-related fatality is preventable.”
In its recently published Programme of Work for 2024, the HSA say there will be a range of inspections and targeted campaigns throughout the year, including in high-risk sectors, such as agriculture and construction.
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