I would like to compliment the Minister on introducing this amendment to the Bill because, as I read it, the general purpose of the amendment appears to be to encourage workers in factories, and particularly where there are conditions which are dangerous to themselves or possibly harmful to health, to take an intelligent interest in the Acts which protect them against dangers to health and dangers of physical injury.
Deputy Dockrell seems to be worried about the position of the occupiers and as to whether or not the occupiers should give approval. The difficulty of the workers in this matter for a very long time has been that, in too many instances where the conditions were not satisfactory, if they left their place of employment to have a look at the provisions posted up in the factory or to go and look at a machine or to consider the conditions affecting their general state of health, they would be liable to discipline. In too many instances it became a question of workers possibly making a report to the trade union and then of the trade union representatives not being able to get access to the factory to examine the position and having to ask the Department to send an inspector down to examine the situation.
I am afraid that, from time to time, the workers have had to complain that the factory owners appear to know when an inspector is coming. I am not making any suggestion against factory inspectors but, from my own knowledge, the suggestion has been made on many occasions that where there were breaches of various Factory Acts and attempts were made to remedy the position then, by some peculiar set of circumstances, somebody in the factory seemed to know that an inspector was due on a particular day with the result that steps would be taken to remedy the situation for that particular day.
The important part of the amendment is that not only does it give the workers some powers to try and protect themselves but it encourages the workers to take an interest in the conditions in their factory. I do not believe any employer would be penalised by the setting up of such safety committees. I feel that many employers would welcome a committee in their factory formed from its workers—a committee of persons who would take an intelligent interest in the safety regulations and, as provided in the section, meet representatives of the employers and draw their attention wherever the provisions of the Acts were not being complied with and the workers were being exposed to danger.
I think, further, it must be admitted that there are times when workers will not take full advantage of the safeguards provided for them. In such circumstances, it would be particularly valuable to have a committee formed among the workers themselves who would impress upon their fellow workers the necessity of using the safeguards provided for them.
This amendment appears to me to seek to ensure that, within any factory or workshop covered by the Act, it would be possible for the employers and the workers concerned to operate the provisions of this Act by being intelligently interested in its provisions and by ensuring that all the safeguards which are considered necessary for the health and safety of the workers will be available to them. I do not think any reasonably good employer will feel in any way that the setting up of a safety committee, and the functioning of that committee as outlined in this amendment, will prejudice the enterprise, the management or the control of the workers employed there.
Surely—and there are many good employers—an employer would welcome a report by a representative of the workers whenever, for instance, a machine lacks a safety guard, as is provided for in the Act? Surely an employer would welcome efforts by the workers to ensure that where protective clothing, protective masks, and so forth, are called for in any operation, the workers themselves will utilise the protective apparatus and will realise that it is there for their benefit? Surely it is desirable, from the point of view of an employer, that a committee composed of representatives of his workers will draw his attention to the fact that he is committing some breach of the Acts governing the safeguarding of the health and welfare of his workers?
In my view, the provisions of the amendment are reasonably simple and can reasonably be carried out without interfering with the management in any serious way whatsoever. They are provisions which, if utilised by all concerned in industry, will tend, I feel sure, towards a better safeguarding of the workers employed in industry.