Vol. 517 No. 3
75 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to any instructions given to workers at telecommunications companies in the handling of mobile phones when being used by them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9537/00]
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, is the principal piece of legislation dealing with occupational health and safety. It is, in the first instance, the duty of an employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. Under section 12 of the 1989 Act, every employer must prepare a safety statement which should be based on an identification and assessment of all hazards and risks in the workplace and which should specify the way in which the safety, health and welfare of employees is to be secured.
Under the 1989 Act, the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, known as the Health and Safety Authority, is the State body charged with overall responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health and matters arising from this responsibility are, therefore, a day-to-day function of the authority. The authority can be contacted at 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2 – telephone 01-6147000.
