Representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Health and Safety Authority, Ibec and the Construction Industry Federation gathered at the Garden of Remembrance today to mark Workers’ Memorial Day, as new figures show a sharp increase in workplace fatalities.
The national day of remembrance honours those who have died, been injured or made seriously ill as a result of their work.
New data highlighted at the event shows that 456 people died in work related incidents in Ireland between 2016 and 2025.
In 2025 alone, 63 people lost their lives in workplace incidents, a 75 per cent increase on the 36 deaths recorded in 2024.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon said: “Today is a solemn day of remembrance, but it also acts as a call to responsibility.
“It calls on all of us, government, employers, workers, and society as a whole, to reflect on pro-active measures taken and what more we can do to prevent tragedy and protect lives.
“If we are to truly honour those we have lost, we must do so not only with words, but with action.
“We must continue to strengthen our commitment to workplace safety.
“We must ensure that protections are not just written into policy, but lived out in practice, every single day, in every workplace.”
Minister Dillon added: “We must foster a culture where safety is a core value in our workplaces. A culture where concerns can be raised openly, where workers are proactively consulted on health and safety matters, and where even one injury is understood to be one too many.”
He said the ongoing work of the Health and Safety Authority is central to improving safety standards and protecting workers.
Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said the number of deaths recorded over the past year is unacceptable.
“A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work. Keeping workers safe is a priority for the trade union movement and must also be a priority for employers and the State.
“One death at work is one too many but I am shocked and saddened that since we gathered for Workers’ Memorial Day last year, that 63 workers have died in preventable incidents at work.”
“This must not be accepted. We must work together to change it. It remains the fact that the most effective tool we have in ensuring good health and safety at work is properly selected, trained and supported Safety Representatives.
“Employers who engage in proper consultation with safety reps and safety committees see a lower rate of injury rates than those who operate without consultation. We urge employers, the HSA and employer federations to do everything possible to support elected Safety Reps.”
Mark Cullen, Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Authority, said the causes of many fatal incidents remain consistent.
“We know that the same hazards continue to account for the majority of fatal incidents in Irish workplaces.
“Working with machinery and working at height remain the leading causes of death year after year.
“These are not new or unfamiliar risks, there are well established control measures that are proven to prevent deaths and serious injury when they are applied consistently.
“The focus must be on the fundamentals, because it is familiar hazards, not emerging ones, that continue to feature in these avoidable fatal incidents.”
As part of Workers’ Memorial Day, the organisations involved are urging employers and organisations across the country to prioritise the safety and health of workers, ensure elected Safety Representatives are supported and consulted, actively support worker participation on safety matters, and use available guidance and tools to strengthen safety management.
The Health and Safety Authority has also highlighted supports available to employers and workers, including the BeSMART.ie tool for carrying out workplace risk assessments and HSALearning.ie, which provides free online training courses across different sectors.