Figures from the Health and Safety Authority show that work-related deaths fell by 32% last year, with construction deaths down, though agriculture fatalities remained the same as 2005.
There was a total of 50 work-related deaths in 2006, compared to 74 fatalities the previous year.
Eighteen people died in the agricultural sector, the same as 2005. There were eight deaths in Cork alone, and ten of the people involved in agriculture-related deaths nationally were over 65.
However, in construction the amount of fatalities fell nearly 50%, with 12 people killed in this sector in the past year - as against 23 in 2005.
The Authority said over 7000 non-fatal work injuries were reported in 2006.
Deputy CEO of the Authority, Michael Henry, said while the sharp reduction in the figures for 2006 was welcome, there was no room for complacency.
He added that farmers were still taking risks at work but that €1.5m has been spent on a new code of practice in agriculture, with a media campaign to be launched this month.
