Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Safety.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the position in relation to safety statements for all Army units; the number of safety courses and health courses held in 1998; and the number of personnel attending the courses. [9428/99]

Ivor Callely

Question:

149 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the research carried out to evaluate the Defence Forces personnel duties impact on their health and welfare; the experience of other countries in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9472/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 149 together.

The Defence Forces have had active safety statements in place for all units since October 1991. These safety statements are regularly updated and reviewed. A number of new military units, established following the reorganisation of the Defence Forces in November 1998, are currently preparing their own safety statements, which will be finalised before June.

As regards health and safety courses, the following courses were provided for personnel of the Defence Forces during 1998.

Course	NumberAttending
Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Diploma
Year 1	3
Year 2	4
Unit Safety Officers Course	19
Manual Handling Instructors Course	16
Certificate in Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment	8

All personnel involved in manual handling are given manual handling instruction on an annual basis. All personnel receive instruction on care of hearing prior to annual range practices.

An evaluation of how the duties of Defence Forces personnel impact on their health and welfare is carried out at unit level, by the unit commander, on an annual basis as part of the annual safety audit. The availability of research into experience elsewhere in this regard is limited.

The protection afforded to members of the Defence Forces complies with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and subsequent associated regulations, and is considered satisfactory.