2021 saw a reduction in work-related fatalities, with a total of 38 reported compared with 54 in 2020, according to the Health and Safety Authority’s annual report.

This represents a decline of 30%, and the lowest number of fatalities recorded since the authority’s formation in 1989.

There was a 50% decline in farming fatalities over the 2020 figure.

A total of 7,477 inspections were carried out across all sectors, with a sustained focus on the high-risk sectors of construction, agriculture and healthcare.

A full 83% of workplaces had prepared a safety statement, while 90% of these had the necessary safety-and-health risk assessments included. In 34% of cases, the inspector required the duty holder to make further improvements to the statement.

A total of 1,109 investigations were completed on foot of incident reports and complaints received.

18 prosecutions 

Eighteen prosecutions were concluded, with 16 prosecuted on indictment and two prosecuted summarily, resulting in fines totalling €692,750.

Four of the 16 indictment prosecutions were against individuals. Of these investigations, 46 were in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 380 were in construction, and 67 in healthcare.

A total of 524 inspections and investigations (6.2% of workplaces) resulted in formal enforcement actions, including prohibition notices and improvement notices. 

A total of 5,284 inspections and investigations resulted in inspectors giving reports of the inspections to the duty holders, which required improvements to be made.