Worrying increase in work-related illness
by Martina O'Leary
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The incidence of occupational illness has increased dramatically since 2008 according to the latest Health and Safety Authority (HSA) statistical report. Over 50,200 people were absent from work for one or more days due to work-related illness in 2012, a 20% increase over 2008. The number of absences for four or more days increased by a massive 60% in the same period, from under 17,000 to almost 27,500. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the most illness-prone sector with 47 in every 1,000 days lost due to occupational illness. Information and communications was next at 41, followed by education (73 days), construction (34 days) and healthcare and social work (31 days). The HSA also reported 47 work-related fatalities and 6,598 accidents, both slightly below the rolling five-year average of 48 and 6,988 respectively. The most common causes of workplace accidents are manual handling and falls. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the most injury-prone industry, followed by healthcare and social work. Read more HERE.
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