Fifty people died in work-related accidents in the Republic this year, 15 fewer than last year, according to figures published today by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
Construction and agriculture remain the two most dangerous sectors, with 16 reported deaths in construction and 15 in agriculture. Seven of the people who died in the agriculture sector were over 65 years of age and one was a child.
Fatalities in other sectors include seven in transport, storage and communication; four in wholesale and retail trade; three in manufacturing; two in other community, social and personal service activities; one in financial intermediation; one in education; and one in the health and social work sector.
Counties Galway and Waterford reported the highest numbers of work related accidents - with five reported in each. Tipperary and Limerick reported four deaths each. Overall 19 counties reported work-related fatalities.
36 per cent of the fatalities in the agriculture sector were triggered by loss of control of a machine, vehicle or object while 26 per cent died as a result of a fall from a height.
The most common non-fatal accident triggers across all sectors were handling, lifting and carrying (31.3%), loss of control of machine, vehicle or object (20.5%) and slips, trips and falls (16.6%).
782,909 days were lost due to injury and 591,904 days due to illness among those in employment in 2003, according to the HSA report.
HSA chief executive Mr Tom Beegan said that while he welcomed the decrease from 65 to 50 in work related fatalities this year, he was disappointed to see that the same two industries — construction and agriculture — continue to be where the majority of fatalities occur.