Paul Bradford
Question:11 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the reason the rate of industrial accidents in Ireland is double that in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Accidents.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:41 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, in view of the recent survey of workplace accidents carried out by the National Health and Safety Authority which showed that the incidence of fatal accidents at work in Ireland was twice the level of the UK, the steps, if any, he intends to take to deal with this level of accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 41 together.
Because of differing definitions and differing levels of compliance, there is, at present, no accurate basis of comparing levels of occupational accidents, including fatalities, in member states.
The Deputies' questions relate specifically to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Here again exact comparison is difficult. For example, as well as fatal accidents and three day plus absence accidents, the UK also has notification requirements relating to certain non-fatal major injury accidents. However, sea fishing accidents are notifiable in Ireland but are not notifiable in the UK. In addition there is the differing levels of under-reporting in both countries.
A rough comparison of the latest occupational injury data available for 1993 in respect of Ireland and for 1992-93 in respect of the United Kingdom would indicate a higher level of employee fatalities per 100,000 persons employed in Ireland, 2.4 per 100,000 employees as against 1.2 per 100,000 employees in the UK.
Recently at a conference of the Health and Safety Authority, I highlighted these differences regarding occupational accidents here and in Britain. While direct comparisons of the levels of occupational accidents are not possible, my point was that we must identify the causes which led to over 60 deaths last year and payment of occupational injury benefit in 16,000 cases. Having identified the causes, we must take action. Our aim must be the elimination of all accidents, in so far as that is possible, and ill health arising from the workplace.
It is difficult to follow the many reasons for the differences in the forms of recording accidents. The Minister referred to the number of fatalities. I am sure she is not suggesting that the matter is merely one of noting the difficulties or differences in the means of recording. Will she accept a significant gap must be bridged and much work needs to be done to improve safety in Irish industry?
Fatalities at sea from fishing boats in the commercial sector are not reported to the equivalent Health and Safety Authority in the UK. One fatality at work is one too many. Much work needs to be done in this area. The Health and Safety Authority has received permission from the Department of Finance for the recruitment of additional staff and that is in the process. There is a cavalier, happy go lucky attitude about safety at work. People believe that others have accidents but do not believe that they will have one. Sometimes it is difficult to get the message across that where necessary people should wear protective clothing and head gear and so on. The Health and Safety Authority is steadily working to get that message through to all industrial sectors.
I agree with Deputy Flaherty that there is a considerable gap to be bridged. I know from working with the Health and Safety Authority that it is going about its business in a professional way. The wearing of protective clothing is the responsibility of the employer and employee and they should work together to create an awareness of safety procedures when going about one's work.
I welcome the additional staff recruitment to the Health and Safety Authority, which was announced when I was absent. It was badly needed because of the increasing demands on the authority and number of directives that will be implemented this year. There have been many problems in the chemical industry. Has the survey of that industry which the Minister asked the Health and Safety Authority to undertake been completed and, if so, will she outline its findings and if changes have been made as a result of them? An accident in that area can result in wider public health risks and implications.
The survey has not been completed. Because it is a comprehensive study the Health and Safety Authority has set the end of 1994 as the time for its completion. That is one of the reasons we sought and obtained permission to recruit additional staff. When the report is completed we will be able to debate the matter in the House.
Is the Minister not alarmed about the extent of industrial accidents reported by the authority last year when almost 13,000 people were injured or suffered illness at work? Is there not a wider gap between 13,000 accidents in a small workforce and 38 prosecutions? Will she agree there are insufficient prosecutions for carelessness in the work environment in many workplaces?
The number of reported accidents at work is too high. The happy go lucky attitude is not one sided; employers and employees believe accidents will not happen to them. The Health and Safety Authority seeks to do its work by implementing regulations, giving instructions and advice and promoting an awareness of health and safety at work. In tandem with that, it will ensure that the regulations are properly monitored and enforced. That is a matter for judgment on each case.