The true level of deaths in the workplace could be up to 10 times higher than reported, the State's biggest trade union has claimed.
Siptu's health and safety officer, Sylvester Cronin, called for a scientific review body to examine workplace-related injuries and illnesses.
Mr Cronin said the Health and Safety Authority's (HSA) annual report for 2004 showed that 50 people died as a result of workplace accidents. In the first four months of this year, 23 people have been killed.
Siptu Health and Safety Officer Sylvester Cronin
"Because the Health & Safety Authority only collects data on the number of illnesses or injuries occurring in the workplace, their figures do not reflect the true level of workplace fatalities," he said.
"For example those killed in road traffic accidents - who are driving as part of their normal work - are not included in occupational fatality statistics, and there is evidence that up to one-third of all road accidents are work-related."
Mr Cronin said it was also estimated that around 4 per cent of cancer deaths are work-related.
"In Ireland, an average of 7,500 people die each year from cancer-related illnesses. So it would be fair to say that another 300 deaths could be related to occupational causes.
"Similarly there should be an investigation into the number of cardio-vascular or respiratory illnesses contracted at work and which may have lead to fatalities outside the workplace. Ireland has one of the highest mortality rates of respiratory disease in Europe."
Mr Cronin said a study produced by the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee in New Zealand estimated that more than 80 per cent of work-related deaths are not documented or reported and are not investigated.
"New Zealand has a working population very similar to Ireland's. So we can assume a similar outcome to an examination of the situation here," he said.
Some 30 per cent of workplace deaths occur in the agriculture sector, according to official HSA figures, even though just 6.5 per cent of the workforce are employed in farming.
Just last week, the HSA unveiled a scheme aimed at tackling stress in the workplace. It said that by 2020, stress would be the major cause of workplace ill-health.
"Stress is associated with coronary artery conditions and recent Scandinavian research found a positive link between workplace stress and heart disease," the HSA said.