A young man in his early 20s has been killed following an accident at a meat processing factory in Kildare.

An Garda Siochana confirmed that the man was fatally injured as a result of the work-related accident that occurred at approximately 2:40pm yesterday afternoon (February 15).

The accident is understood to have occurred at the Kildare Chilling factory, located on the Dublin Road.

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) has been notified and an investigation is currently underway.

It has not yet emerged how the tragic accident happened.

Farm deaths

In recent days, the HSA confirmed the third farm death of 2018. Last Friday (February 9), a man died on a farm in Co. Meath following an accident.

The man, who was in his 70s, is believed to have been killed on a potato farm in Meath after being hit by a teleporter, according to a (HSA) spokesperson.

At the beginning of the month, a man was killed in an accident on a farm in Co. Tipperary. The accident occurred on a holding near Clogheen, in the south of the county. It is believed that the man was loading bales prior to the accident occurring.

On Sunday, January 21, a teenager died after falling from a tractor on a farm. The accident took place near Boulaglass, Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – which is located close to the border with Co. Clare.

Last year, out of a total of 47 workplace deaths, 24 farmers died in work-related accidents – with 14 being aged 65 or older.