asked the Minister for Labour the steps his Department are taking to ensure a decrease in the number of industrial accidents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Accidents.
51.
I have strengthened the industrial inspectorate and more inspectors are in the process of being recruited through the Civil Service Commission.
I am up-dating codes of safety regulations so as to cope more effectively with the ever changing needs of the occupational safety situation which are brought about by technological innovations in industry.
I am enforcing, by court action where necessary, the statutory occupational safety provisions. My inspectors are available at all times to give advice and assistance in the matter of industrial safety.
The number of premises, consisting of factories, mines and quarries, on the register of the industrial inspectorate in 1974, was approximately 18,000, with an employment content of around 200,000.
During 1974, approximately 22,000 visits were made by inspectors, giving satisfactory coverage in the case of factories, mines and quarries.
Despite the number of visits, is it not true that industrial accidents are on the increase?
The number of accidents certainly increased but the number of fatal accidents decreased satisfactorily last year, from I think 35 to 22. The increase in the number of accidents is due probably to several factors. There has been an increase in the number of industrial accidents every year since we have kept records. There are a number of theories as to why this should happen—such as the expansion of industry or changes in technology. The number of inspections has been increased and the number of fatal accidents is down.
May I ask the Minister in relation to Question No. 34, answered by his colleague a while ago, whether it is proposed to bring accidents in the agricultural sector within the ambit of the National Industrial Safety Organisation?
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and I have agreed that agricultural workers will be brought under the Labour Court by means of a joint labour committee. I do not think any decision has been taken yet in the area mentioned by the Deputy.
The Minister a while ago said separate legislation would be necessary. I did not think it would.
I will certainly seek that information for the Deputy.
Is there an adequate number of inspectors engaged in this work? Is there an annual increase or a projected annual increase?
That is a separate question.
We have increased the number and we constantly review the situation. We have 41 officers in service at present and the number of visits they have been able to make is satisfactory.
Is there a ratio as between inspectors and employees or——
That is a separate question.
There is no such requirement. We are satisfied that industries to be covered are adequately covered. The matter is constantly open to review and we increased the number last year.
Would the Minister agree that certain industries are more hazardous than others and in view of that would he not agree that there should be some criterion in his Department for the different types of industry and the number of employees involved and that there should be an inspector for a particular number of employees?
That would seem to be a separate question.
We grade their effectiveness by the number of visits they are able to make. Obviously there is a connection between the size of the inspectorate and the number of establishments to be visited.
Is the Minister, or the Minister for Industry and Commerce, considering up-dating and amending the legislation?
That would be a separate question.
There is such a review at present.
Both the building regulations and the Factories Act are completely out of date.
Most accidents take place on building sites. If Deputies would tell their friends in the building industry to ensure that they abide by the rules we might have fewer accidents. Deputy Fitzgerald has many friends in the building industry in Cork.
And a good many unemployed friends.
Politically unemployed, all right.
They are in receipt of social welfare benefits, thanks to the efforts of the Minister's colleague.
Question No. 52.
Since the building industry is one of the most hazardous would the Minister not consider that there should be a greater concentration of inspectors——
We cannot start off another series of questions. They are not relevant.
We are engaged in a review.