Deaths in work-related accidents during 2007 show an increase from the previous year's figure, according to the Health and Safety Authority's (HSA) .
The HSA annual report and statistics, which was launched by Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher, shows 67 people lost their lives in workplace accidents during 2007. This compares with 51 in 2006.
Speaking at the launch in Dublin today, HSA Chief Executive Martin O'Halloran said that they were happy that progress was being made in making the work environment safer but that a few tragedies, notably in the fishing industry, accounted for the increase.
"Although that figure for 2006 was a particularly good one compared to 74 in 2005, it is disappointing that it has increased, but we must remember that these figures are all individual tragedies and we must strive to constantly emphasise the safety message" he said.
He added: "We are in the first year of a three year strategy of significantly increasing awareness of industrial safety among our employers and 2.1 million workers.
"This involves educational and advisory programmes aimed at preventing accidents, and we are now happy that the legislation is in place to enforce and back up this initiative" he said.
Farming accidents accounted for 11 deaths, and though this was down on the previous year it is the sector with the highest per capita fatalities.
A total of 13,361 workplace inspections were carried out during 2007 - 6,496 in the construction sector, 1,965 in manufacturing and 1,313 in agriculture. Arising from the inspections successful prosecutions were brought in 31 cases.
Overall, there were 7,800 accidents causing absences of four days or more reported to the HSA across all industries, with 14 per cent of those involving non-national workers.
The HSA says that there was 1.7 million working days lost at an estimated cost of 4 billion to the economy.
The Minister said that the work of the HSA was important in averting tragedies which affect families not only on a very personal emotional level but when the main earner in a family is killed or badly injured it can leave many facing the poverty trap.
"We have a dual approach to health and safety in the workplace. We will provide employers with all the advice, support and promotional activity that is required, but we will also ensure that any employer who neglects their duty will face the full rigours of the law," he said.
He referred to the farming industry as a particularly difficult sector to deal with because of the numbers working individually who are not easily accessed with details of a safety programme.
He said there were a lot of elderly farmers still working “who are maybe no longer as quick of limb as they are of mind, and they can be in danger doing even relatively straightforward tasks".
"If we are to tackle death and serious injury at work it involves commitment from all stakeholders and I can assure the HSA of my full support in trying to reduce the needless tragedies," he added.