There was an 11% decrease in workplace deaths in 2012, according to new figures released by the Health and Safety Authority.
There were 48 work-related deaths reported to the authority last year, down from the 54 reported in 2011.
Of those who died in accidents in the workplace last year, 17 were farmers.
The figures, which were included in the authority's annual report for 2012, also show that there were 20 prosecutions last year for breaches of health and safety regulations in the workplace.
Speaking to RTÉ's News At One, Health and Safety Authority Chief Executive Martin O'Halloran admitted that the number of prosecutions was low.
He said that the authority tried as much as possible to take "corrective action" with employers.
Mr O'Halloran acknowledged that the fall in work-related deaths may be linked to the economic downturn.
He expressed concern that if the economy improves there may be a rise in deaths.
As in previous years, manual handling injuries were the most common non-fatal injury in the workplace, accounting for around one third of all injuries.
Slips, trips and falls accounted for almost 20% of all non-fatal injuries in the workplace in 2012.
