Health and Safety Statistics

The systematic collection and analysis of data to monitor health and safety performance and identify major risks is vital for the effective functioning of the Authority.

The Authority currently maintains in-house databases of reported injuries, complaints received, inspections and investigations and enforcement actions taken. The Authority is also involved in data-sharing arrangements with other organizations. Currently, we use data from the Central Statistics Office, Occupational Injury Benefit Division of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, Teagasc and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.

The statistical outputs are used by Authority staff to plan Programmes of Work and inspection schedules. Specific statistics are prepared for advisory committees, regional working groups and for conference presentations. Our statistics are also supplied to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employments, numerous industry and union groups and the media. A data file of reported accidents is submitted to Eurostat (Statistical Agency of the European Commission) on an annual basis for the preparation of European comparator statistics.

The Research and Statistics Unit also has responsibility for managing the annual programme of research projects commissioned by the Authority. Research on priority issues is conducted in collaboration with academic institutions, other public sector agencies and expert consultants. Completed research reports are presented in the HSA Research Series.