Official figures 'play down extent of work-related deaths'
02/08/2005 - 12:01:12SIPTU has claimed that official figures on work-related deaths are not an accurate reflection of the amount of people dying in the course of their jobs.
Official figures show that 50 people died in workplace accidents last year and almost half that number again in the first four months of this year.
However, SIPTU said the real death toll could be much higher as road fatalities involving people who drive as part of their job are not being counted.
It also said that between 4% and 8% of all cancer deaths in Ireland are work-related, which equates to at least 300 fatalities every year.
