Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, 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. Matters arising from this responsibility are, therefore, a day-to-day function of the authority.
Statistical information concerning the number of fatalities, injuries and inspections in any work sector is collected by the Health and Safety Authority and is therefore obtainable directly from the authority. I have, however, been informed by the authority that there were 23 construction related fatalities in 2000. The number of accidents resulting in more than three days absence from work reported to date to the Health and Safety Authority for 2000 was 952.