To deliver healthy and safe working lives and contribute to productive enterprises

HSA review finds 83% of construction fatalities occurred on sites with four workers or fewer

Tuesday, 20 October

HSA publishes review of construction fatalities from 2022–2024

(L-R) Eoghan O’Connor, HSA Inspector, Tim Dowling, Senior HSA Inspector, John Murphy, Co-Chair of the Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC), Eibhlin O’Leary, HSA Assistant Chief Executive, Eamon Stapleton, Co-chair of the CSPAC, Brian Molloy, HSA Inspector

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has today published its Review of Construction Fatalities in the Republic of Ireland 2022–2024, examining the circumstances and key trends associated with work-related deaths in the construction sector over the three-year period.

The review found that 23 work-related fatalities were recorded in the sector, with falls from height the leading cause, accounting for 15 fatalities. It also found that 19 of the 23 fatalities (83%) occurred on sites with between one and four workers.

All 23 people who died were men, 96% were Irish nationals and 87% were aged between 35 and 64. Self-employed workers accounted for 10 fatalities, or 43% of the total.

The report draws on HSA fatal incident investigations and supplementary data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Eibhlin O’Leary, Assistant Chief Executive at the HSA, said,

“Every fatality in construction represents a person who went to work and did not come home. This review shows that falls from height continue to be a critical risk, accounting for 15 of the 23 fatalities. It also highlights the need to focus on smaller sites, with 83% of these fatalities occurring on sites with between one and four workers.
“The findings provide important lessons for everyone involved in construction. Employers, self-employed workers and those responsible for construction projects must make sure that risks are properly assessed, that work is planned safely and that the right protections are in place before work begins.”

The full report is available on the HSA website: Review of Construction Fatalities in the Republic of Ireland 2022–2024