Niall Collins
Question:882. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the new EMF workplace directive (2013/35 EU) has been transposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22185/16]
View answerTuesday, 19 July 2016
Questions (882)
Written answers
The provisions of Directive 2013/35/EU were transposed through the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Electromagnetic Fields) Regulations, 2016 (S.I. No. 337 of 2016). The statutory instrument was signed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D, on 29th June 2016 and came into effect on 1st July 2016. This timeline met the transposition requirements laid down in Article 15 of the Directive.
The EU Directive deals with health and safety at work and lays down the minimum safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from electromagnetic fields. The new Regulations rely upon the principles already expounded in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and in Parts 2 and 3 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007-2016.
An initial set of draft Regulations and an Impact Assessment were the subject of a public consultation exercise conducted by Health and Safety Authority last year. A practical guide has been prepared to assist employers, particularly small to medium sized enterprises, to understand what they will need to do to comply with the Directive. It can be downloaded from the website of the Health and Safety Authority.