Irish Government figures have shown an increase in days lost to work-related injury and illness in recent years.

The latest figures released by the Health and Safety Authority on Tuesday show that illness rather than injury causes more days absent from work.

Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher TD, launched the document, which showed work illness is as serious as work injuries.

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HSA Chief Martin O'Halloran said occupational illness is an area that the group will be targeting further, adding it is important that employers and employees do not focus solely on occupational injuries.

Also, acording to the new figures, the number of work-related deaths in 2007 was 67, compared to 51 in 2006 and 74 in 2005.

The agriculture sector had the highest fatality rate at 8.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

Of the injuries reported to the Authority in 2007, approximately 14% involved non-Irish workers.

(DW)