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Data released by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has found that farming was still the most dangerous sector, with 18 fatalities in 2019.
Almost three in every four farm fatalities last year involved people aged 60 and older.
HSA CEO Dr Sharon McGuinness said that farmers must recognise their limitations as they age, as it may affect their ability to work.
“As farmers get older, they must adjust their work practices to make sure that they avoid injury. I would urge people to really take on board the dangers around farming whenever working with livestock, slurry or machinery,” she said.
“Farmers think it’ll never happen to them, but, sadly, as we have seen, all it takes is a few seconds for a serious injury or death to occur,” she said.
All sectors
Meanwhile, the provisional data shows that Wexford had the highest number of fatal workplace incidents among all sectors, with seven fatalities in 2019.
Dr McGuinness said that the toll of workplace injury, illness and death remains too high and many workers remain at serious risk.
“Although we have seen a downward trend between 2015 (56 total fatalities) and 2018 (39 total fatalities), action still needs to be taken to ensure that every worker goes home safely each and every evening.
“We must not become complacent as we continue our mission to prevent injury, death and ill health at work,” she said.
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