Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
164 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps taken to ensure that the health and safety issues, that is, safety statements, are rigorously enforced in the delivery of hydrocarbon fluids, namely, petrol and diesel, on public roads in view of the enormous amounts of road spillage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31813/04]
View answerThe delivery of hydrocarbon fuels, namely, petrol and diesel, by road within the State is regulated primarily under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Act 1998, No. 43 of 1998, which transposes Council Directive 94/55/EC — ADR Framework Directive — on the transport of dangerous goods by road.
The provisions in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 relating to the preparation of safety statements applies in the case of vehicles as to any other place of work. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 is enforced by the Health and Safety Authority. Although a safety statement must specify the manner in which safety, health and welfare of persons employed shall be secured, all relevant practical issues in respect of fuel oil transport are specified in detailed technical regulations, namely, the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 2004 — S.I. No. 29 of 2004 — which transpose for the purposes of national transport activities the requirements of the 2003 European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
No reports of dangerous occurrences relating to spills of petrol or diesel from dangerous goods road tankers on to the public roads have, been received by the Health and Safety Authority in 2004. The consequences of spillages of diesel or fuel oil which have a direct bearing on road safety or the environment does not fall within the remit of the Health and Safety Authority.
