Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Regulations.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

112 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workers injured in workplace accidents in 2003 to date; the number of workers killed in workplace accidents in 2003 to date; her views on whether the Government is not doing enough to reduce the high incidence of workplace accidents and fatalities in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29852/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

The number of workers killed in workplace accidents in the period 1 January to 4 December 2003 is 53, or 2.98 per 100,000 workers. This compares with a total of 52 worker fatalities in the full year 2002 at a rate of 2.97 per 100,000 workers. Again, while any workplace fatality is one too many, worker fatality rates per 100,000 workers have thankfully declined from a rate of 5.46 in 1995.

Deputies will be interested to know that non-fatal workplace accidents are reportable to the Health and Safety Authority if they result in more than three days' absence. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health. Matters arising from this responsibility are, therefore, a day to day function of the authority.

The authority's work programme for 2003 included a wide range of actions to improve safety performance in the high-risk sectors of construction, agriculture, mining and quarrying. Many of the key bodies in these sectors such as the IFA, Teagasc, CIF, ICTU and IBEC made specific commitments and inputs to support safety initiatives, which together with the Authority's own inspection, enforcement, advisory and promotional activities are designed to help to reduce workplace accidents and injuries.

There is still a major challenge to reduce workplace accidents which lead to injuries and death. In saying that there are also responsibilities on the major participants in the workplace, workers and employers. All parties working together can make the workplace safer and in this regard I commend the progress made in recent years in various partnership approaches to workplace safety.