Fines of more than £1 million have been issued to employers in Northern Ireland over the past decade following the deaths of almost 150 people in work-related accidents, new figures reveal.
Statistics show there has been 33 successful employer prosecutions relating to deaths in the workplace in the north since 2014/15.
This has amounted to fines of £1.25 million with one year alone, 2022/23, a staggering £331,500 of fines issued.
The figures were revealed by Stormont minister for the economy Conor Murphy in response to an assembly question by DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen.
She had asked for the number of workplace deaths as a result of work-related accidents and the number of employers found guilty of health and safety breaches as a result of investigations by the Health and Safety Executive into such deaths.
The HSENI is responsible for investigating workplace accidents.
Ms McIlveen also requested information about the financial fines that were imposed in each case, in each of the last 10 years.
Figures released by Mr Murphy reveal that over the past decade there has been 139 workplace deaths.
In 2014/15, 23 people died with two employers found guilty of offences, although no fines were issued.
The following year saw 12 deaths in the workplace with two employers found guilty and fines of £2,500 and £24,000 issued.
In 2016/17, a total of 16 people lost their lives with three employers charged and fines issued of £50,000, £3,000 and £1,500.
There were no prosecutions in 2017/18 relating to fatal incidents, however, there were 11 deaths recorded.
Twelve people died in workplace accidents in 2018/19 with one employer found guilty that year and fines of £50,000 issued.
Four employers were found guilty in 2019/20 with fines totalling £327,500. Four workplace fatalities were recorded.
The following year there were 11 deaths, one employer found guilty and a fine of £75,000 issued.
In 2021/22 there were 18 workplace-related deaths and 52 employers found liable with fines of £155,000, while the following year fines of £331,500 were issued with eight deaths registered.
During 2023/24, there were 17 fatal workplace accidents with 55 employers found guilty and fines of £205,000 issued.
