Michael Bell
Question:289 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the issue of military health and safety are organised centrally; and the interaction with the representative bodies. [3640/97]
Written Answers. - Military Health and Safety.
Occupational health and safety in the Defence Forces is co-ordinated by the Defence Forces Advisory Committee on Safety. This committee, which has a positive and proactive interaction with the representative associations, was established shortly after the enactment of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, and has been engaged in directing and monitoring a comprehensive implementation of the provisions of the Act. The committee has remained in place as recommended in the report of the Advisory Committee on Defence Forces to the Health and Safety Authority. The 1994 report of the Advisory Committee to the Health and Safety Authority acknowledged the excellent work undertaken by the Defence Forces and specifically acknowledged the excellent work done in the area of education and training.