High-risk sectors such as construction have shown the largest falls in work-related fatalities in recent years, new figures have shown.

Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary, has today welcomed figures from the Irish Republic's Health and Safety Authority, which show that 2009 had the lowest number of reported workplace fatalities (43) in 20 years.

"I welcome this positive trend, albeit with some reservations because there are 43 families who have spent the holiday period mourning the loss of a family member in a workplace accident.

"While there is no room for complacency, the reduction in workplace fatalities is encouraging and great credit is due to the work of the Health and Safety Authority and to employers and employee representatives who continue to work collaboratively for greater workplace safety."

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The construction industry suffered 10 fatalities in 2009, compared with 13 fatalities in 2006, 18 in 2007 and 15 in 2008. Agriculture fatalities were 21 in 2008 and 10 in 2009.

Mr Calleary continued: "Undoubtedly, decreased activity in the construction sector has played a part in the decrease in fatalities but so too has the sharp focus which both the HSA and the Construction Safety Partnership have maintained in not losing the safety gains made in that sector over the past 10 years or so.

"The priority for the new year will be to ensure that health and safety in the workplace will not be compromised during the economic downturn.

"The work of the HSA will be focused clearly on this objective primarily because of the risks in terms of human cost but also having regard to the effect that poor health and safety has on insurance and other costs for employers."

(NS/BMcC)