Dismay at number of work-related fatalities during 2015
SIPTU Health and Safety Advisor, Sylvester Cronin, has expressed dismay that the overall number of work-related fatalities remained at the same high level in 2015 as the previous year with incidents in the construction industry showing a significant increase.
Figures released by the Health and Safety Authority in early January show that 55 people were killed in work-related accidents in 2015. This is exactly the same number of fatalities that occurred in 2014. Fatalities in agriculture were down by 40%, with 18 deaths reported compared to 30 in 2014. However, construction fatalities increased from eight in 2014 to 11 in 2015 and the fishing sector also saw an increase from one in 2014 to five in 2015.
Cronin, said: “Between 2009 and 2014 there has been an almost steady increase in the annual rate of work-related fatalities. It is very disappointing that 2015 did not see a decline in these numbers.
“It is very worrying is that two-thirds of the overall work-related workplace fatalities happened in small employments. This is a segment of employments where the European Commission wants to make occupational safety and health legislation lighter.
He added: “This reduction in safety and health legislation in small enterprises will result in increasing risks to workers in these workplaces.”
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