Vol. 541 No. 5
133 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons killed in workplace accidents since the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989; the number of persons killed in workplace accidents during 2000 and to date in 2001; when the review of the Act is likely to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23190/01]
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 and injuries in any work sector is collected by, and obtainable directly from, the authority.
I have, however, been informed by the authority that a total of 699 fatal accidents have been reported to the authority for the period 1989 to date, of which 69 were reported for 2000 and 51 have been reported to date for 2001.
The review of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, which I commissioned, has been completed by the board of the Health and Safety Authority and legislative proposals to amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, are being developed at departmental level.
All such proposals will, of course, be subject to the normal process of legal drafting, consultation with the social partners on the legal text, approval by Government and passage through the legislature. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to be precise about the exact timing of enactment.
