Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 1

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Regulations.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

The management of workplace health and safety, including construction site safety, is based on the principles of legislation, enforcement, information and partnership.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 clearly sets out the duties and responsibilities of both employers and employees in relation to the provision and maintenance of a safe working environment. This Act applies to all places of work and to all employers, employees and the self-employed.

The 1995 Construction Regulations implement a European Union directive specifically addressing safety and health standards on construction sites. These regulations constitute one of the most detailed pieces of legislation dealing with any one sector. They introduce the concept of a chain of responsibility thus making health and safety an integral part of construction work from inception through to completion, and they place very specific obligations on all the participants, that is, clients, designers, contractors, employers and employees.

Legislation, however, needs to be enforced in a targeted and structured manner if it is to be really effective in improving safety standards. Earlier this summer, I launched a new Construction Action Programme, drawn up by the Health and Safety Authority, which is the State body responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of health and safety legislation. Under this programme a dedicated team of construction inspectors has been set up within the authority. This team is now operational and the inspectors have been targeting unsafe building sites. I have also written to all my Government colleagues asking them to ensure that where public sector construction contracts are being awarded, the firm or contractor in question has a safety statement, as required under the 1989 Act.

The authority's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety — on which the key players in the construction industry are represented — is also actively seeking to improve safety standards in the sector. It has produced a code of practice and video on safe work with scaffolding which will be launched shortly. It is also in the process of establishing sub-groups to consider the whole issue of consultation in the construction industry and to draw up improved guidelines for clients on their responsibilities for safety on their sites.

In addition, I have also met with trade union and employer representative bodies in order to discuss my concerns on construction site safety. At these meetings, both sides outlined to me the extent of the activities which they have undertaken to improve safety standards. What I have emphasised to all concerned is that I would like to see a stronger promotion at individual site level of the approach to safety which is espoused by the national representative bodies of the social partners.

Our health and safety legislation is fundamentally good legislation which provides effective mechanisms for the proper management of workplace health and safety. It is enforced in a pro-active manner by the Health and Safety Authority and is complemented by the commitment and activities of the social partners. It is through this continued commitment from all sides that we can bring about real improvements in safety standards.