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The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) carried out 1,480 inspections in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors in 2024.
This figure comes from the HSA’s 2024 annual report which showed that the authority conducted 11,600 workplace inspections and investigations across all economic sectors, with a particular focus on high-risk areas including construction, agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare.
In total, there were 34 workplace fatalities in 2024, the lowest level recorded since the HSA’s establishment in 1989.
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon said:
“While the reduction in workplace fatalities is encouraging, we cannot become complacent.
“I commend the authority’s efforts to integrate digital tools, expand stakeholder education, and address modern challenges related to psychosocial hazards and digitalisation in the workplace. This work is essential to keeping Irish workers safe and our economy competitive.”
Prosecutions
In addition, the HSA conducted 144 workplace investigations in 2024 and were involved in 11 prosecutions with a combined cost of fines totalling €1,440,000.
In one case on 16 January 2024, a case was heard in Kilmallock District Court where an individual pleaded guilty to one charge.
On 13 December 2022 at Bruree, Co Limerick, the accused, was working as a director for the client under safety, health and welfare regulations, however, the client failed to appoint in writing a competent project supervisor for the construction stage for the construction of an extension to an agricultural shed on a farm.
After a guilty plea, the individual was given a €2,500 fine.
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