asked the Minister for Labour what steps are being taken as a matter of urgency to bring about a substantial improvement in the observance of safety regulations on building sites and in factories with a view to reducing the number of accidents.
28.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Safety.
27.
asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of fatal accidents in the building industry has doubled in the past year; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the lives of workers in that industry.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.
Under the law the onus of complying with industrial safety requirements rests primarily with the employer. Co-operation by the worker is also called for.
The industrial inspectorate of my Department provides an advisory and accident prevention service to industry, including building and construction; and where necessary, prosecutions are taken in the courts.
The inspectorate works in co-operation with the National Industrial Safety Organisation, a voluntary body representative of employer, worker and other interests concerned with industrial safety. This body also includes representatives of the industrial inspectorate and it receives financial assistance from the Labour Vote.
Following a comprehensive review of the inspection service a few years ago, the number of inspectors has been increased, and further inspectors are at present being recruited.
Does the Minister not agree that the sad position now is that the number of accidents has doubled in the last 12 months? Does that not clearly indicate to the Minister that it is imperative that further steps be taken to save the lives of those workers in view of the fact that twice as many people have been killed in accidents on building sites last year than in the previous year?
I think all reasonable care is taken, as far as the Department are concerned, to eliminate accidents. It is virtually impossible to completely eliminate accidents because, unfortunately, very often the worker himself is careless. It is very difficult to do much to eliminate that except by frequent education and advice.
Could the Minister state how many safety inspectors are employed?
I think 28 at the moment.
You were looking for 40.
We are still some short. We are recruiting at the moment.
This time last year the Minister said he was going to bring the number up to 40 but he has not brought it up to further than 28. No progress has been made in the last year.
Yes, we have.
Question No. 29.
Is it not true that, when the Minister was speaking on his Estimate last year, he said there were 28 safety inspectors and he was bringing this up to 40 in the coming year? He still has only 28. In other words, the Minister has employed no further inspectors in the last 12 months. Is that correct?
There are 29.
The Minister has employed one extra in the past year.
Do I take it that the Minister has no solution to this very serious problem? He should not ignore the fact that twice as many people were killed in this type of accident last year as were killed the previous year. Surely the Minister has a responsibility to see that some additional precautions are taken, or legislation is brought in if necessary, in order to remedy this serious matter?