53 work-related deaths in 2020
Those who are self-employed have been urged to avail of free health and safety risk assessment tools with new figures showing that more than half of all people who died in work-related incidents in 2020 were self-employed.
That’s according to the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) latest Annual Review of Workplace Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities, published on Tuesday. Of the 53 work-related fatalities in 2020, 28, or 52.8 per cent, were self-employed, 12 victims were employees and 13 were non-workers.
The largest number of fatalities occurred in agriculture, forestry and fishing, where 18 of the victims were self-employed. Seven victims in construction were self-employed, two victims in wholesale and retail trade were self-employed, while one self-employed victim worked in accommodation and food service activities.
In welcoming the 2020 Annual Report and Annual Review of Workplace Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English said: “There are approximately 300,000 self-employed people in Ireland, most of whom work alone, juggling a myriad of skills, who might consider time spent on health and safety issues important, but not urgent. These are the people who have the most to lose if they have an incident or serious illness.
“The HSA have many free tools, courses and supports available and I’d encourage all employers and workers, including the self-employed, to avail of them or to contact the HSA for advice.”
Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in the number of people contacting the HSA and availing of supports.
According to the HAS’s Annual Report, also published on Tuesday, the HSA’s Workplace Contact Unit handled 28,684 contacts in 2020, 39 per cent more than in 2019.
Of the 28,684 contacts received, over one-third, or 9,982, were requests for information in relation to Covid-19.
The numbers registering to use the HSA’s free safety statement and risk assessment tool, BeSMART.ie, increased by 15 per cent in 2020 with 78,162 people registered in 2020, compared with 66,296 registered in 2019.
The online farm risk assessment tool, farmsafely.com, recorded an increase, with 13,227 registered users in 2020, compared to 11,502 registered users in 2019.
52,644 online health and safety courses, HSALearning.ie, were taken in 2020 - the highest on record, and 60 per cent more than the number of courses taken in 2019.
“More people are now aware of the importance of health and safety in the workplace. But health and safety must continue to be a top priority as it can and will save lives,” said CEO of the HSA, Dr Sharon McGuinness.