asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce amending legislation so as to ensure that safety committees are a legal requirement in all employments with ten or more workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factory Safety Committees.
27.
Under the provisions of section 73 of the Factories Act, 1955, workers are fully empowered to set up safety committees. The number of safety committees set up by the workers is only 125, notwithstanding sustained official encouragement and a series of publicity campaigns by the National Industrial Safety Organisation.
I have been considering various possible means of improving the situation, including the proposition in the Deputy's question that the establishment of safety committees should be made a statutory requirement. I am not satisfied that an amendment of the law on these lines would, of itself, achieve the desired objective and I am therefore exploring other possibilities. I propose to invite Deputies to discuss the matter during the debate on the Estimate for the Department of Labour.
Would the Minister agree that there is a necessity to make an effort to extend the establishment of safety committees in industry?
Yes.
There is a necessity to involve employers. By making it a matter of legislation it would mean that employers would be involved. The chief weakness at present is that employers are not involved and as the Minister is aware they make the decisions in Irish industry.
I thoroughly agree that there is need to extend these committees. I am not terribly satisfied that the statutory provision would be the best thing. If we could get voluntary effort to enforce the statutory requirement it would be, to my mind, a much better thing. There are certain statutory provisions which the committee seek to have observed. I am not completely sold on that idea but it is my opinion at the present time.
Would the Minister consider encouraging employees to take first aid courses? Are there any grants given or any inducements to do so?
We do make a grant towards the National Industrial Safety Organisation. They do some very good work and are prepared to assist any industrial group.
Would an employee get a grant or have the course paid for if he decides to do it?
I would not go so far as to say he could get the course and the grant but he would be facilitated.
Could he get the fee for the course refunded?
He would get facilities.
Would the Minister spell out the facilities?
No.
The Minister has admitted that this is a very important matter and he will not help in any way to tell the people about it.
That is not correct.
Would the Minister spell out exactly the facilities. Anything the Minister says now will be publicised so he might be doing a good public duty by stating exactly what facilities will be offered to the workers to encourage this.
Any workers who are anxious to improve their knowledge of safety precautions in industry should get in touch with NISO.
The Minister thinks they will do it for them?
Yes, their only complaint is they are not availed of enough.
Obviously the public do not know about them.