Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
42. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work that his Department has undertaken to progress legal standards for CO2 in the workplace in view of the current wave of Covid-19 and the Government's support for the Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18779/22]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for workplace Health and Safety legislation, I have requested the Health and Safety Authority to analyse a range of options to achieve the objective of the proposed Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill 2021.
This analysis is underway including a review of approaches taken in other European Union Member States. I have been informed that a number of legislative options have been identified. A proposal is currently being prepared by the Health and Safety Authority and will be forwarded to my Department in the coming weeks.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 currently creates an obligation on employers to make sure that there is an adequate supply of fresh air (ventilation) in enclosed areas of the workplace. The evaluation of ventilation in a workplace should form part of an overall workplace risk assessment.
