Workplace accidents: Farmer ‘thankful to be alive’ after falling through roof

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) regulates workplace safety.

In response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request it confirmed that 81 people had died in workplace incidents in Northern Ireland since 2020.

Fermanagh and Omagh Council area had the highest number of workplace deaths (15), followed by Antrim and Newtownabbey (12), Mid Ulster (10) and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council areas (10).

The majority of the incidents were connected to the agricultural and construction industries.

Sean Keogh is acting deputy chief executive for HSENI.

“No one should go to work to die, behind these figures are real people and families lives’ changed forever, there’s no job so urgent that it can’t be done safely,” he said.

He added: “Agriculture and construction tend to be high risk industries because you can go from working at heights, with machinery, to working with livestock and slurry, but these risks can be controlled.

“Our advice is always to plan your work, use the right protections, work to safe procedures, for example when at a height have scaffolding in place, when using machinery make sure its inspected and you’re trained to use it.”