The Health and Safety Authority has responsibility for the occupational health and safety of workers and those who may be affected by a work activity. The Authority is the lead agency in relation to the Return to Work Safely Protocol and in encouraging and checking compliance with the Protocol.
In addition, as part of the whole of Government approach and to supplement the efforts of the HSA inspectors, 500 other inspectors from across the system are now monitoring the application of the Protocol as part of their normal inspection duties. These resources are being drawn from the Workplace Relations Commission, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environmental Health Officers employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). These additional inspectors are supporting the Health and Safety Authority in carrying out checks on compliance with the Protocol as part of their normal inspections. Furthermore, 7 Staff from my Department have been seconded to the Workplace Contact Unit of the Health and Safety Authority to assist in managing phone and email queries about the Return to Work Safely Protocol
If an employee has concerns about a workplace compliance with the Protocol they can contact the Health and Safety Authority Workplace Contact Unit (WCU) on a confidential basis at 1890 289 389 or by sending an email to wcu@hsa.ie. If following such a complaint, there are serious concerns about a particular workplace, the Health and Safety Authority or another agency or organisation tasked with inspecting workplace compliance with the Protocol, will follow-up as appropriate. Where businesses have not fully complied with the Protocol, any matters that need to be addressed are the subject of the inspection report and are followed up so as to ensure compliance.
It should be noted that Health and Safety Authority carries out inspections and manages complaints on a confidential basis. In order to achieve compliance with the Protocol the Health and Safety Authority can use its full range of powers. Any initial engagement with an employer is with the aim of achieving the required outcomes through consensus and collaborative agreement e.g. advice, Reports of Inspections (ROI). However a failure to comply with a ROI is an offence.
In addition, the Health and Safety Authority has produced checklists and templates to support implementation of the Protocol which have now been downloaded over 130,000 times and feedback on these from a range of employer and employee groups has been very positive. The Health and Safety Authority has noted a high level of compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol to date during Phases 1 and 2.
The running of Public Health campaigns would be a matter for the Department of Health which has overall responsibility for public health matters.
