To mark this year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) continued their appeal for more employers to support and facilitate the appointment of safety reps in their workplaces to help foster a strong culture of safety and prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths.
Between 2015 and 2024, 447 people died in work-related incidents across Ireland and many thousands more were severely injured or made ill at work. In 2024 alone, 34 workers lost their lives – serving as a stark reminder that work to ensure safer workplaces must continue.
Workers’ Memorial Day 2025, which remembers workers who have lost their lives, have been injured or contracted illnesses because of their work, was held on 28 April with a national commemorative ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin.
The event was addressed by Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, along with representatives from NISO, the HSA, ICTU, Ibec and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).
Minister Richmond noted that every workplace should prioritise the health and safety of its employees and do all in its power to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. “Positive worker engagement and consultation with trade unions, including the selection of safety representatives, is a tangible way towards engraining a safer working environment, where employees feel valued, protected and empowered to speak up about safety concerns.
“By embracing the Safety Representative model, organisations demonstrate their commitment to prioritising the well-being of employees and promote a culture of safety excellence,” the Minister added.
Safety representatives, who serve as liaisons between management and staff, advocating for effective safety protocols, play a pivotal role in safeguarding the wellbeing of workers, identifying hazards and supporting employers in implementing proactive measures to mitigate risks. Their presence not only enhances workplace safety but also promotes open communication channels, enabling swift resolution of safety issues before they escalate into serious incidents.
“All of the evidence shows that workplaces are safer when there is a recognised trade union and where there is genuine partnership, and consultation and collective bargaining between employers and trade unions, according to Owen Reidy, ICTU General Secretary.
“Under the current legislation, employees are entitled to elect a safety representative to represent them on safety and health matters with their employer. On construction sites where there are more than 20 people employed at any one time, the project supervisor for the construction stage must facilitate the appointment of a safety representative.
“There are thousands of trade union safety representatives in workplaces nationwide, but we need more. Together we can honour the memory of fallen workers, create safer workplaces, and protect lives,” he added.
Mark Cullen, Chief Inspector, Health and Safety Authority.
Mark Cullen, HSA’s Chief Inspector, noted that significant strides have been made since the inception of the Authority in 1989, evident in the halving of the fatality rate. “It is positive to see such a decline in the overall fatality figures for 2024, in particular the significant reduction in the high-risk agriculture and construction sectors.
“However, vigilance and advance planning around health and safety at work is crucial to lowering the number of deaths further. Employers must strive to create a culture where unsafe work practices are called out and challenged by all.
“Close collaboration between employers and employees is crucial, and the encouragement and facilitation by employers of a worker-elected safety representative is a great way to achieve this,” he added.
Fergal McKevitt, NISO President, said: “On Workers’ Memorial Day, we not only remember those we have lost but we renew our commitment to protecting every worker. Supporting the role of safety representatives is a vital part of building a culture where safety is everyone’s priority. We urge all organisations to actively encourage and facilitate worker-elected safety representatives.”
The HSA provides free guidance and tools to support safety initiatives for both employers and employees. These include the free www.BeSMART.ie assessment tool that allows employers, or the self-employed, to carry out risk assessments and identify where the risks are to worker safety in their workplaces.
The Authority also offers free online training courses for workers across different sectors on its dedicated online training platform www.HSALearning.ie. Meanwhile, the Work Positive tool kit is a free State and stakeholder supported psychosocial risk management process that helps organisations identify ways to improve employee wellbeing.
(Images: Damien Eagers / Julien Behal Photography)
