Work-Related Deaths Drop Almost 50%

The number of work-related deaths in Northern Ireland has dropped by almost a half, according to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), but the body maintains there is no room for complacency.

HSENI's latest Annual Report shows that the number of all work-related fatalities in 2013/14 was down to 10, compared to 19 in the previous year.

The biggest fall was seen in the agriculture sector, with the number of work-related fatalities down to four, compared to 11 in the previous year, indicating a drop of 67%.

HSENI said farm safety continues to be the biggest challenge facing workplace health and safety in Northern Ireland.

Keith Morrison, HSENI Chief Executive, said: "This year again saw HSENI focus much of our attention and resources on farm safety as a result of seeing an increasing trend in work-related farm fatalities in recent years. I am very grateful to the organisations which make up the HSENI led Farm Safety Partnership – they have made a major contribution towards raising awareness of the main farming health and safety issues and ensured that important messages and advice was distributed across the industry. The reduction in fatalities during 2013/14 is very encouraging but there is certainly no room for complacency, particularly given that this year to date has already sadly witnessed another four fatalities in agriculture. We must collectively continue to do all we can to ensure that farm deaths and accidents become a thing of the past."

George Lucas, Chair of HSENI and the Farm Safety Partnership, added: "The Partnership developed a second Farm Safety Action Plan and delivered a major multi-media farm safety campaign during the year, which was co-sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and supported by all partners. Staff from HSENI also undertook 1,000 advisory farm visits and delivered over 35 farm safety presentations to a wide range of audiences at events across Northern Ireland during the year. HSENI also delivered its farm safety programme to over 12,200 children in 93 rural primary schools, produced two new farm safety DVDs, ran a safety poster competition and produced and distributed an 'Avoid harm on the farm' 2014 farm safety calendar to 38,500 families in rural areas."

The report also showed a fall in all reportable work-related injuries, with provisional figures for 2013/14 showing a drop of 4% on last year and down 17% since 2010/11. While major injuries were almost identical to last year, they were also down 17% since a five-year peak in 2010/11.

(IT/CD)