Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Liz McManus

Question:

162 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take on the widespread use of the disinfectant glutaraldehyde in hospitals in view of its association with serious respiratory illnesses, brain damage and a dysfunctional immune system; the reason it has continued to be used in hospitals in spite of official knowledge of its dangers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5646/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Gluteraldehyde is a chemical that is a long established sterilising agent which has the potential to be toxic and must be treated with caution. I understand that the Health and Safety Authority is currently considering a joint venture with the Irish Nurses Organisation to adapt current guidelines on the use of gluteraldehyde for general use in an effort to raise awareness of the issue.

The Health and Safety Authority has overall responsibility for advising on and enforcing health and safety legislation and regulations. Health agencies, as with all other employers, have the responsibility for ensuring workplace health and safety.

Health agencies need to be aware of the importance of their responsibilities under health and safety legislation. My Department has met the Health and Safety Authority and it is currently in the process of forging strategic alliances with the country's eight health boards to promote their common objectives in the area of workplace health and safety. The Health and Safety Authority will work with health agencies to identify and prioritise the principal factors affecting safety and health in the health sector and encourage and support the development of good practices.

The Health and Safety Authority has established an advisory committee on the health services sector under section 17 of the Health Safety and Welfare Act, 1989. The committee will identify and prioritise the principal factors affecting health and safety in the health sector, having regard to the previous advisory committee report of 1992 and report to the authority its recommendations.

The question of health and safety provisions is essentially one for the individual agencies to deal with on a day to day basis within their annual determination, service planning process and legal requirements under the health and safety acts. Additional funding available to me for health and safety initiatives for distribution to health agencies is limited and is provided to supplement initiatives at local level particularly those highlighted by the Health and Safety Authority.

In 2000, I am providing more than £5.5 million specifically to supplement health and safety initiatives which are being undertaken at local level by health boards, hospitals and mental handicap homes.