Ireland's Health and Safety Authority have expressed their "serious concern" over a stark rise in fatalities in the Irish construction sector.

Recently announced figures have pushed the Health and Safety Authority into speaking out over the present state of health and safety in the work place in Ireland, which saw a worrying jump from 12 deaths in construction to 18 in 2007.

Despite many sectors such as agriculture experiencing a reassuring fall in workplace fatalities, the construction sector's record is greatly troubling the authority.

Martin O'Halloran, CEO of the Authority, said: "While the sharp reduction in agriculture fatalities is most welcome, we are seriously concerned at the increase in other sectors, particularly construction and fishing. The Authority will continue to focus its resources in these and other high-risk sectors and they will feature prominently in our activities for 2008 and beyond."

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The most common fatal accidents throughout the sectors were fall, collapse or breakage of material, which claimed 16 lives, and falls from height claiming 10. Five were due to loss of control of transport or handling equipment, and seven of the fatalities were presumed drowned. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Dublin where nine workers were fatally injured, while Waterford saw 10 work related deaths in 2007, compared to zero deaths at work in 2006. Overall, Ireland's work related death toll has risen by 17 on 2006.

Martin O'Halloran, CEO of the Authority further added: "A huge amount of work has been done to raise awareness and promote good practice and we will continue to work with employer and employee organisations in our goal of making workplace safety, health and welfare an integral part of doing business in every workplace in modern Ireland."

(DW/JM)