Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
194 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of primary and secondary schools which are currently being investigated by the Health and Safety Authority; the names and addresses of those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21533/04]
View answerHealth and Safety Authority inspectors inspect workplaces to monitor compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and associated legislation including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 1993. The legislation places a duty on employers to safeguard the health and safety of their employees. Work activities must also be carried out by the employer in a manner which will not affect the health and safety of others at the workplace. The health and safety of students in full-time education is not covered by the 1989 Act but would be covered by the employer's duty of care to non-employees.
The monitoring and inspection of workplaces is a day to day matter for the authority in which I have no direct function. However, I am informed that authority inspectors inspected 19 primary schools and 12 secondary schools in the period 1 January to 10 September 2004, which resulted in a total of 35 visits.
These inspections would have reviewed workplace conditions for teachers and ancillary staff and monitored conditions for other workers such as those involved in construction or maintenance work, removal of asbestos containing material etc.
The Health and Safety Authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 45 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 relating to restrictions on the disclosure of information, does not publish details of the names and addresses of workplaces inspected by it.
