New figures from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) show that 43 people lost their lives in work-related incidents in 2023.
This compares with a figure of 28 deaths in 2022.
Of the 43 workers who died in 2023, 53% were self-employed, while 51% were workers aged over 55.
Farming accounted for 16 fatalities, while 11 of the deaths occurred in construction.
Both sectors accounted for over two thirds of all fatalities in 2023.
Working with vehicles and falling from heights were the leading causes of work-related deaths last year.
Of the 43 fatalities in 2023, 39 were male and four were female.
The HSA said that over the last ten years there has been a decrease in the rate of fatalities in Ireland from 2.8 per 100,000 workers in 2014 to 1.6 in 2023.
"As we reflect on the last year and the 43 people who lost their lives in work-related incidents, we first and foremost think of their families and friends who have tragically lost a loved one in 2023," said HSA Assistant Chief Executive Mark Cullen.
He added: "Where there is a known risk, such as working with vehicles and machinery or working at height, duty holders must take preventative actions to ensure they themselves or workers are safe," he said.
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"We are urging the self-employed, employers and duty holders to prioritise health and safety in their workplaces in 2024 to ensure fatalities don't happen. Every work-related fatality is preventable," he added.
The HSA recently published its Programme of Work for 2024, which will see a range of inspections and targeted campaigns throughout the year, including in high-risk sectors, such as agriculture and construction.
The HSA said it will also focus on changing workforce demographics, as well as technological and environmental impacts on Irish workers.
"We have and will continue to develop supports and resources to address the evolving nature of the work environment, including impacts related to psychosocial hazards, digitalisation, sustainability, and changing workforce demographics," said HSA Chief Executive Conor O’Brien.
'Just stop and think, it could happen to you'
Michael Callan is a dairy farmer based in Ardee, Co Louth.
In July 2016, while moving silage, he was thrown from the teleporter he was operating.
The machine then overturned and crushed him.
"I tumbled out over the side of the teleporter and came through the window in midair," Mr Callan recalled.
"When I hit the ground, for a split second, I thought I'm safe and then I got the bang as the machine came on top of me and I will never forget that."
Mr Callan had lost his phone in the fall and was trapped under the teleporter for around 20 minutes before he was discovered.
"By then, I had lost a lot of blood. I had massive injuries to my right side. I was in hospital for a month with that and had to undergo multiple surgeries," he said.
"My pelvis was broken in three different places and my arms and legs were butchered from the crush injuries."
Mr Callan is urging people who work on farms to be careful.
"I was always big and strong and fit, and I always thought I was invincible that nothing could ever happen to me," he said.
"But on that day for some strange reason it happened and it went wrong, it can happen to anybody without being careless or reckless.
"I would say to people that they should try to slow down a little bit and maybe think that it could happen to you," he added.
