Businesses need to carefully examine their health and safety plans to help minimise the risk of workplace accidents in 2006, Ibec warned yesterday.

The employers' group wants to focus on reducing the number of preventable accidents.

Tony Briscoe, Ibec's director of health and safety, said that 2005 has so far seen 68 fatal workplace accidents, a considerable increase on last year's 49. In 2003, there were 67 fatal workplace accidents.

"While detailed figures on non-fatal accidents are not yet available for 2005, and despite a considerable downward trend in earlier years, this development is worrying and suggests greater care is needed to avoid serious injury," said Mr Briscoe.

He acknowledged, however, that the trend in occupational injuries in the Republic is positive when compared to other European states. In fact, the Republic has a lower incident rate than most other parts of Europe.

Ibec has found that a large number of fatal accidents are associated with falls, particularly falls from heights and from machinery.

"Falling objects also present serious risks to individuals at work and these accidents are preventable. If more attention was paid to these risks, a large proportion of our fatal accidents could be prevented," said Mr Briscoe.

Ibec sees it as "vital" that employers be aware of the health and safety risks in the workplace and that they involve their employees in the health and safety process.