The number of days lost due to accidents in the ESB group last year fell by 748 to 2,450, according to new figures published by the company. The number of "lost time" accidents fell by 14 to 107.
The ESB Group Safety Report for 2003 was launched by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Frank Fahey, this morning.
As part of what the company called a "vigorous safety drive", the ESB said it carried out more than 4,000 safety audits across the group last year. Some 200 of these were carried out in projects outside the Republic of Ireland.
The ESB said it had recently adopted the international OHSAS 18001 standard, which sets a high standard for safety management right across the company.
Mr Fahey praised the ESB's historical record on safety and urged the company to continue to strive for improvements.
"In publishing this report you are not only reviewing what has taken place over the past year, but also setting out targets to be met across the group for safety performance in the coming year," he said.
ESB chief executive Mr Pádraig McManus said safety is the top priority for ESB, safety of the staff and safety of the public.
"We have set ourselves a target of zero accident workplaces for staff and the public."