Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
60 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when new construction regulations approved by the HSA and its construction advisory committee, which included representatives of trade unions and professional bodies, will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33553/04]
View answerDraft construction regulations are currently with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting and it is expected that they will be signed in to law in early 2005.
The purpose of the draft regulations is to prescribe the main requirements for the protection of the safety, health and welfare of persons working on construction sites and to give further effect to the Council Directive 92/57/EEC by replacing the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2001, S.I. No. 481 of 2001, on the minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites with new regulations.
The new regulations are designed to clarify and strengthen the general duties of all parties as regards securing occupational safety, health and welfare in construction work, including those of clients, project supervisors design process, formerly titled project supervisors design stage, project supervisors construction stage, designers, contractors and employees.
The regulations will apply to all construction projects as well as to the maintenance of buildings. They place obligations on clients and designers to ensure health and safety is taken into account before any construction work begins. Contractors must ensure that the work on site is properly co-ordinated and carried out in a safe manner.
The regulations have also been subject to widespread consultation and have been recommended by the tripartite board of the Health and Safety Authority.
