Given the role of the Defence Forces, it is inevitable that members of the forces are from time to time involved in inherently hazardous duties. Accordingly, every effort is made by the military authorities to make military training safe and realistic for the tasks and contingencies that military personnel may face from time to time.
I am satisfied that the military authorities regard health and safety matters within the Defence Forces as a priority issue. The Defence Forces have put a great deal of work into implementing the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, and they have demonstrated a high degree of commitment to the safety of personnel. In that context, I am advised by the military authorities that safety statements, which are regularly updated and reviewed, have been in place in all units since October 1991, and safety representatives are in place at unit level throughout the Defence Forces.
A Defence Forces advisory committee on health and safety, comprising both civilian and military personnel, has been engaged in directing and monitoring a comprehensive implementation of the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.
As part of the ongoing implementation of safety measures, 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.
One of the recommendations of the Price Waterhouse report on the Air Corps was that one of the more senior positions in Air Corps headquarters should be dedicated full-time to the maintenance of a proactive aviation safety programme, including the monitoring of compliance with such a programme. The general officer com manding the Air Corps has appointed a senior officer to the appointment of air safety officer on foot of that recommendation.
In all the circumstances, the protection afforded to members of the Defence Forces under the terms of the Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1989, and associated regulations is considered satisfactory. The need for constant vigilance in this important area is recognised.