Health and Safety Regulations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Questions (112, 113, 114)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

243 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority are not carrying out the portable appliance test of all moveable electrical equipment in offices, hospitals, centres and so on as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation S.I. No. 299 of 2007, to ensure the safety and welfare of both employees and employers; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that records of all such tests must be kept for at least five years to allow the Health and Safety Authority to carry out random spot checks and that insurance companies and underwriters are already seeking proof of compliance prior to renewal of policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6452/10]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

The Health Information and Quality Authority have indicated that they have no such equipment that requires to be tested under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulation. In respect of the Health Service Executive, as this is a service matter it has been referred to them for direct reply.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

244 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if all the portable electrical equipment in her Department has a portable appliance testing certificate as required by Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation S.I. No. 299 of 2007; if not, the reason for same. [6453/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

245 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if all the portable electrical equipment in her Department and subsidiary or grant aided companies has portable appliance test certificates as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation S.I. No. 299 of 2007; if not, the reason for same; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a PAT must be carried out on all moveable electrical equipment in offices, centres and so on, to ensure the safety and welfare of both employees and employers; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that records of all such tests must be kept for at least five years to allow the Health and Safety Authority to carry out random spot checks and that insurance companies and underwriters are already seeking proof of compliance prior to renewal of policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6468/10]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

S.I. No. 299 requires that equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in danger and supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current is visually checked by the user before use and is periodically checked by a competent person, appropriated to the nature, location, and use of the equipment. In general, portable equipment in use in the Department of Health and Children would not fall within the scope of S.I. No. 299. However, it is our standard practice to adhere to prescribed maintenance arrangements for electrical and other equipment.