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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 7

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Programmes.

Alan Shatter

Question:

60 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence the number and ranks of the Defence Forces' personnel provided for by the new organisation to be engaged full-time in the management of health and safety matters; if he has satisfied himself with these provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/98]

Jack Wall

Question:

63 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the cost in the defence budget for its health and safety programme for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5061/98]

Jim Mitchell

Question:

75 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the number and content of health and safety courses held for FCA and An Slua Muirí in 1997; and the proposed courses, if any, for 1998. [5057/98]

Question:

98 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Defence the number and content of health and safety courses held for FCA and An Slua Muirí in 1997; and the proposed courses, if any, for 1998. [5056/98]

Dinny McGinley

Question:

108 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the number and content of health and safety courses held for the FCA and An Slua Muirí in 1997; and the proposed courses, if any, for 1998. [5058/98]

Derek McDowell

Question:

135 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Defence when the first health and safety scheme was implemented by his Department; the cost of the scheme; if it was implemented or improved in subsequent years and the cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5075/98]

David Stanton

Question:

162 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number and content of health and safety courses held for the FCA and An Slua Muirí in 1997; and the proposed courses, if any, for 1998. [5177/98]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

194 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number and ranks of the Defence Forces personnel provided for by the new organisation to be engaged full-time in the management of health and safety matters; if he has satisfied himself with these provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5229/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 63, 75, 98, 108, 135, 162 and 194 together.

I am pleased to say that the Defence Forces were among the first organisations to implement the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. A structure, which included a Defence Forces advisory committee on health and safety, was in place by 1990. A report on the Defence Forces prepared by the Health and Safety Authority in 1994 complimented the Defence Forces on their work in the health and safety area.

Spending on health and safety is an integral part of the purchase of all items of equipment for the Defence Forces. All items considered for purchase over the last ten years have been required to be of the appropriate British or European Union standards. Health and safety is also an element of the protocol for acceptance testing of all equipment. The Vote for Defence contains a provision for health and safety training and equipment and since 1995 the provision has been £30,000 in 1995 and 1996 and £40,000 in 1997 and 1998. Safety statements for all units, which were drawn up in the 1990-91 period were revised in 1997. The Defence Forces safety standards are also under review at present and it is anticipated that they will be produced in a new form by the end of this year. All improvements have been budgeted for in advance.
The re-organisation of the Defence Forces, as provided for in the Defence Forces review implementation plan, is taking place at present in consultation with all of the relevant authorities. In the light of the wide-ranging nature of the re-organisation it is not possible to give an indication at this stage as to the number of personnel who will be engaged eventually on a full-time basis on health and safety matters. In 1997, two health and safety courses, involving 60 to 65 students were held in the Eastern Command for the Reserve Defence Force. These courses formed part of a pilot project and involved one day per month over a three-month period. The syllabus for the courses included law, fire safety and manual handling. A further such course is taking place at present in the Eastern Command and it is planned to hold a similar course in each of the other commands in the autumn.
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