Ireland recorded 58 work-related deaths in 2025, a 61% increase on the 36 fatalities recorded in 2024, according to provisional figures published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The rise has pushed workplace safety compliance back to the top of the agenda for employers across every sector, and the HSA’s 2026 Programme of Work makes clear that inspection activity is about to increase sharply in response.
Which sectors were hit hardest?
The HSA’s figures point to a small number of sectors carrying a disproportionate share of the risk:
- Agriculture — 23 deaths, or 40% of all work-related fatalities, from a sector that employs roughly 4% of the workforce.
- Construction — 10 deaths, up from 5 in 2024.
- Manufacturing — 5 deaths, compared with none recorded in 2024.
Agriculture’s share of fatalities is not new — it has been the highest-risk sector for years — but the scale of the increase across construction and manufacturing signals that the rise isn’t confined to one industry.
What the HSA is doing about it
The HSA’s Programme of Work 2026 commits to roughly 11,000 inspections under its occupational safety and health remit, with several targeted campaigns already under way:
- A nationwide driving for work inspection campaign, launched 7 July 2026, targeting employers whose staff drive as part of their job, whether that’s their main role or an occasional one.
- An all-island silica dust campaign in construction, run jointly with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) from June to the end of August 2026, focused on high-risk activities like cutting, grinding, drilling and demolition.
- A summer inspection campaign targeting major outdoor events, including concerts and festivals, launched 5 June 2026.
The HSA has also widened what “safety training” is expected to cover. Its updated Safety Representative training standards for 2026 now explicitly include psychosocial risks and remote work safety, alongside the traditional physical hazards.
What this means for employers
An 11,000-inspection programme means the odds of an HSA inspector visiting any given workplace in 2026 are meaningfully higher than in previous years. A few practical steps are worth prioritising now, rather than waiting for an inspection to prompt them:
- Review risk assessments for manual handling, working at height and any activity involving driving for work, the three areas the HSA is actively targeting.
- Check that safety representative training reflects the updated 2026 standards, including psychosocial risk and remote work provisions.
- If your business is in construction, confirm that respirable crystalline silica exposure is properly controlled and documented ahead of the all-island campaign.
- Keep training records current and easy to produce; inspectors will ask for evidence, not intentions.
None of this requires overhauling a safety programme from scratch. It means making sure existing training is current, documented and matched to where the HSA’s attention is actually going in 2026.
IFC Training Hub provides online workplace safety and compliance training to organisations across Ireland, including Manual Handling, Working at Height, Fire Safety and Abrasive Wheels. Browse all courses or get in touch to discuss training for your team.
