asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the increase of the notifiable accident rate in factories from 13.6 per thousand in 1960 to 15.8 per thousand in 1961, he will review his previous decision not to increase the number of factory inspectors and the frequency of these inspectors' visits to factories.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Factory Inspection.
23.
I cannot accept the implication in the question that the accident rate in factories will vary directly with the number of visits to factories by inspectors.
At present all factories are visited once a year by a factory inspector and many get return visits during the year. I do not think that more frequent visits would necessarily reduce the accident rate.
I am of course concerned with the number of accidents in factories and I had hoped that there would have been greater use made both by workers and employers of the provisions in the Factories Act, 1955, for the establishment of safety committees.
In what percentage of of cases are the safety conditions functioning?
I am afraid I cannot answer that offhand.
Would the Minister set out to find out?
It is like the Fair Wages Clause.