Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2006
204 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of accidents which occurred on building sites for the years 2000 to 2005 and comparison figures for 1990 to 1995; the impact of the safety health and welfare at work construction regulations of 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38076/06]
View answerI would like to refer the Deputy to the following Schedule which sets out the fatality numbers and rates per 100,000 workers in the periods referred to.
Over the period 1990-1995, there was an average fatality rate in the sector of 11.5 per 100,000 workers. By comparison, the rate was 8.6 per 100,000 workers for 2000-2005.
A specific breakdown for employment in the Construction Sector is not available before 1994 and, accordingly, an estimated figure of 90,000 is used for those years. In respect of non-fatal accidents in the construction sector only limited data is available.
The numbers of non-fatal accidents (resulting in injury requiring more than three days absence from work) reported to the Health and Safety Authority for each of the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 were 1,117, 1,514 and 1,677 respectively. The level of accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority, however, only shows part of the picture. For example, the Central Statistics Office Quarterly National Household Survey for 2003 and 2004 shows non-fatal occupational accident numbers of 5,300 and 5,820 respectively.
Taking account of a construction workforce of 200,600 in 2003 and 227,400 in 2004, the respective non-fatal accident rates per 100,000 workers were 26.2 in 2003 and 25.0 in 2004. These figures are contained in the Summary of Fatality, Injury and Illness Statistics 2004-2005 published by the Health & Safety Authority earlier this year.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995 were introduced, inter alia, to transpose into Irish law Directive 92/57/EEC relating to temporary or mobile construction sites. Those Regulations represented the first change to Construction Safety Regulations in 20 years and shifted the emphasis onto those who procure, design and manage construction for the first time.
Through the recommendations of the tripartite Construction Safety Partnership, the 1995 Regulations were replaced by the updated Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2001 and amendment Regulations 2003.
Following further detailed examination by the Health and Safety Authority, including wide-ranging consultation with relevant interests, I signed the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 504 of 2006) during September and they came into operation on 6 November 2006.
The new Regulations will build on design and management requirements introduced in earlier regulations and also on the duties related to construction work set out in section 17 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.
Modern contractual arrangements have informed the regulations for Clients and Project Supervisors. Timelines are now set out for Project Supervisors to be in place. Phase-in provisions are provided for projects in motion before the regulations took effect on Nov. 6th. Safety Advisers must now be in place during construction where more than 100 people are at work on site. This provides an additional level of supervision for large, potentially complex projects.
Other new additions for Contractors include requirements for the use of Explosives and for Road works. Visibility aids will also be required for vehicles on-site, by May 6th 2008 for existing plant and by May 6th 2007 for new plant. These upgrades arise from research, which shows an increase in vehicle related accidents as the industry becomes more mechanised. The range of Construction Skills Certification Schemes is also extended to include additional courses such as signing and lighting at roadworks. This new extended range of courses will be available 18 months after the Regulations came into effect.
Regulations 80 to 123 of the 2001 Regulations relating to lifting appliances and lifting equipment remain in operation for the time being until they are replaced by proposed separate Regulations.
As recognised in my Department's Regulatory Impact Analysis on the 2006 Regulations, this latest phase of legislative action in this area is a further development arising from the tripartite Construction Safety Partnership with an emphasis on client and management issues. The 1995 Regulations and the substantive amendments in 2001 and 2006 put in place a regime where all construction and civil engineering projects must be planned, managed and carried out in a safe manner. There have been significant improvements in health and safety performance in a number of areas since 1995, particularly in the area of falls from a height, where a steady reduction in associated deaths has occurred.
|
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
|
|
Construction Sector Total |
7 |
12 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
|
No. employed in sector (Q4) |
90,000* |
90,000* |
90,000* |
90,000* |
91,500 |
96,600 |
|
Fatality Rate per 100,000 workers |
7.8 |
13.3 |
11.1 |
12.2 |
10.9 |
13.5 |
*Estimated.
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
|
Construction Sector Total |
17 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
16 |
23 |
|
Construction Workers |
14 |
18 |
21 |
16 |
15 |
21 |
|
No. employed in sector (Q4) |
178,100 |
185,400 |
191,300 |
200,600 |
227,400 |
253,200 |
|
Fatality Rate per 100,000 workers |
7.9 |
9.7 |
11.0 |
8.0 |
6.6 |
8.3 |
