asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of the statutory regulations governing fire security arrangements in factories and offices; and if he is satisfied that these are adequate and are being adequately enforced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Security Arrangements.
17.
The relevant statutory provisions are contained in the Factories Act, 1955, and regulations and in the Office Premises Act, 1958.
As regards factories, the statutory provisions are set out in a document entitled A Guide to the Factories Act, 1955 in respect of fire and explosions, drawn up by the Industrial Inspectorate of my Department in March, 1970. I am arranging to have copies of this document placed in the Library.
As regards offices, provisions as to means of escape in case of fire are contained in section 18 of the Office Premises Act, 1958. These deal with the condition of exits from rooms, disposal of the contents of rooms so as to provide free passageway for persons employed in the room to means of escape in case of fire, the marking of possible exits other than those in ordinary use, and ensuring that staff are familiar with fire routine. There are supporting provisions in section 17 of the Act which deal with the sound construction and maintenance of floors, steps, stairs, lifts, passages and gangways. The relevant provisions and their enforcement are kept under review as part of my Department's work and whenever changes are called for, the necessary action is taken.
I should explain that the Minister for Labour is the enforcing authority in respect of offices in the occupation of the State and offices in places to which, statutorily, the Factories Act, 1955, applies. In all other cases enforcement lies with the local sanitary authority.
Could the Minister tell me what inspectors the Minister for Labour has to ensure that these regulations are enforced or does he rely on the chief fire officers?
No. We have inspectors of our own and we have increased the number recently, twice in the last year, and we are still in the course of recruiting extra men.
May I ask the Minister in respect of the recent fire tragedy in Dublin if he has received any report from the factory inspectorate of his Department about fire security arrangements or has his Department received any report from the Department of Local Government in regard to any commissioned report by the Minister for Local Government himself?
Not yet, no, not in relation to the fire itself, but in relation to the premises before the fire, yes.
In relation to the condition of the premises, the plant, the offices, and so on, has the Minister available to him any report regarding the position immediately preceding the fire?
Yes, there was an inspection carried out reasonably near to the date of the fire.
Can the Minister say whether, according to that inspection report, everything was in order?
Yes. Everything was in order at the last inspection.
18.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will undertake as a matter of urgency a survey of premises in which the manufacture or use of highly inflammable materials takes place and enforce such regulations as will ensure (a) that adequate precautions against fire exist and (b) that such premises do not constitute a risk to those in other parts of the same building or in adjoining buildings.
The industrial inspectors of my Department carry out regular inspections of all factories including factories in which inflammable materials may be manufactured or used. The inspectors maintain liaison with the local sanitary authorities in regard to the question of means of escape in case of fire. In the context of the Deputy's question, the occupier of a factory in which highly inflammable materials are stored or used, is required to have a certificate from the local sanitary authority certifying that the factory is provided with such means of escape in case of fire for the persons employed in the factory as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case. A special survey is not therefore called for.
The Minister for Local Government, to whom questions have been addressed, will deal with the situation as far as the Fire Brigades Act, 1940, is concerned.
Is the Minister aware that in the case of the recent tragic fire in Dublin it is stated that the fire officer of the fire department could not carry out an inspection because the premises did not come under the heading of a factory? Would he not agree that it is necessary to have a survey carried out so that all premises where highly inflammable materials are stored could be examined so that people could be satisfied there was no undue danger?
I am not aware that the fire officer was precluded from carrying out an inspection.
It appeared in one of the Dublin papers that there was no inspection by the officer because the premises did not come under the heading of a factory.
I will not make any statement on that.
Is the Minister aware that in this country we have what is probably the worst rate of fire damage to business property of any country in the civilised world?
The Deputy is making a statement.
Is it the position that the regulations to which the Minister refers and which are administered by his Department and the Department of Local Government are rendered almost inoperable by reason of the fact that in half the counties in Ireland there are no chief fire officers?
The Minister has indicated that his Department are entitled to a certificate of suitability from the sanitary authorities in respect of premises such as the one in question. Can the Minister say whether such certificate was submitted to his Department in this case?
Yes, there was a certificate in this case showing that the facilities required by law were provided.
Who carried out the inspection?
The sanitary authority.