asked the Minister for Labour what penalties are invoked in the case of those responsible for instructing young workers who are under 21 to clean dangerous machinery while it is still in motion.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cleaning of Dangerous Machinery.
56.
The Factories Act, 1955, prohibits the cleaning by a woman or a youth under 18 of dangerous machinery while in motion. Cleaning of such machinery by male workers over 18 is subject to the provisions of the Act about fencing of dangerous machinery while dangerous parts are in motion. The penalties for conviction for breaches of these provisions are fines—not exceeding £20 for an offence, not exceeding £5 a day for a continuing offence and not exceeding £200 where a worker is killed, dies or suffers bodily injury.
Would the Minister not agree that these fines are derisory in view of the factory report which suggested that a number of accidents have their origins in such machinery being in this unguarded state? Would he not agree that we should have higher penalties for managers who allow this kind of thing to continue? They are responsible for people who are injured. A fine of £20 is ridiculous if a man loses his hand.
For bodily injury it is £200. I do not think the average employer would equate a person's hand with £20 or a fine. There is a good response from industry.
Would the Minister agree that the factory report last year singled out this factor and said it was serious? Would the Minister not agree that we should ensure that these regulations are taken seriously by upping the fine and making it commensurate with the accident involved?
If we had evidence that they are not taking it seriously, but the evidence I have is that it is a matter of bringing it to the notice of the employers.
Would the Minister agree——
We cannot discuss this question all day. There are 129 Questions on the Order Paper. Question No. 57.