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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1965

Vol. 219 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Safety Committees.

98.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of Safety Committees established under the Factories Act, 1955; the number of representations made by such Committees to date; and if he will have steps taken to encourage the creation of such Committees.

I am aware of the existence of 57 safety committees formally established under the provisions of the Factories Act, 1955. There are, of course, some hundreds of firms which have non-statutory works committees dealing among other matters with safety, health and welfare.

A safety committee may make representations to the occupier of a factory and, in fact, the occupier may make representations to a safety committee, on matters of safety, health and welfare. I would have no information as to the number of such representations.

A safety committee, through a safety delegate, may make representations to a factory inspector on matters of safety, health and welfare. Relatively few such representations have been made to date, but representations may also be made and are made to inspectors from time to time by shop stewards and workers other than safety delegates.

The establishment of safety committees is a matter for the workers, but the factory inspectors in my Department have been instructed to discuss this matter in the course of their inspections with a view to stimulating interest in the setting up of safety committees. It remains, however, a matter for the workers to decide.

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