04/11/2008

Work-Related Deaths Gravely Underestimated

One of Ireland's largest trade unions has said that the actual number of work-related deaths in Ireland is more than 23 times the official figure.

According to Siptu, 1,400 people died every year as a result of accidents, illnesses and diseases linked to their employment, as opposed to official statistics of around 60.

Siptu claims the discrepancy is due to a policy by the authorities to only record deaths caused by accidents on the grounds of the workplace as work-related.

However, Sylvester Cronin, Siptu's health and safety adviser, called on the Government to revaluate the current system, and recognise all workers whose deaths were caused by their employment.

“It is high time the Government counted all the work-related deaths and acted accordingly,” he said.

Mr Cronin said the figure of 1,400 work-related deaths came from statistics compiled by the United Nations agency, the International Labour Organisation.

“Ireland’s official statistics count only those workers killed as a result of an accident inside the workplace,” he said.

“They omit to count deaths caused by work-related illnesses and diseases. They also exclude work-related deaths caused by road traffic accidents.”

(DW)


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