Business and civic leaders at the second Northern Ireland Annual Health and Safety lecture have been told that the work environment kills more people worldwide than war or disease.

In his address, the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, John Monks, said: "Around the world, more people die because of their work than because of wars or epidemics like HIV."

In his lecture entitled 'Partnership And Why Europe's Working Environment Works', Mr Monks reflected on the often overlooked toll of occupational ill health.

"In Europe, work-related illness kills more people than injuries do. All of us across the EU, need to get to grips with occupational ill health without losing our focus on injuries," he said.

Speaking about the European working environment he said: "A social Europe must deliver a healthy Europe or the greater global competitiveness we all want will be a hollow achievement."

Mr Monks congratulated the lecture organisers, the HSENI and the University of Ulster, on their efforts to open up the debate on occupational health and safety.

Professor Bill Clarke, the Provost of the University of Ulster, said he was certain that Mr Monks lecture would bring about "increased public awareness of this very important subject".

(SP)