asked the Minister for Labour if he intends to take any action to deal with the high level of accidents on construction sites, which between 1980 and 1985 resulted in 52 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries; if he has any plans to extend the provisions of the Safety in Industry Act, 1980, to cover construction sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers - Accidents on Construction Sites.
15.
Building operations and works of engineering construction are subject to many of the relevant provisions of the Safety in Industry Acts, 1955 and 1980, including those relating to general safety concerning chains, ropes and lifting tackle, cranes and other lifting machines, sanitary and welfare provisions and so on. These operations are also subject to the detailed comprehensive provisions of the Construction (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1975. When the Deputy refers to the extension of the provisions of the Safety in Industry Act, 1980, to construction sites, I presume that what he has in mind is the extension of the provisions of Part III of the Act concerning safety consultation at the workplace.
In this regard and, indeed, in relation to occupational safety and health in general at all work places, I would point out that I am developing comprehensive legislative proposals based on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work — the Barrington Commission. These proposals will include, inter alia, provisions relating to the establishment of a consultative mechanism at each workplace to give workers an input into decisions about their working environment. In the meantime, I do not consider it appropriate to amend the Safety in Industry Acts to extend to the construction industry their provisions concerning safety consultation having regard to the fact that the inflexible provisions of those Acts relating to worker consultation were strongly criticised by the Barrington Commission.
The annual level of accidents both fatal and non-fatal is, indeed, a cause for concern. The annual figures show that the standards of safety in construction work are clearly unacceptable and that greater effort is needed to improve matters. One of the most disconcerting aspects of the situation is the similarity of causation from year to year. Attitudes to safety by employers, management and workers must change if the present undesirable rate of accidents is to improve. In this regard, the fullest co-operation of all is essential in the establishment and operation of safe systems of work.
I am glad to hear the Minister say he is considering legislation on the proposals in the Barrington Commission report but I take it he is aware that last year there were 11 deaths on construction sites. Is he aware that this high level of deaths concerned construction workers so much that recently a delegation from Moneypoint came to Dublin on a day's protest about accidents on their site? They referred to the record of the Minister in regard to safety on construction sites as abysmal. Will the Minister ensure, either under the Safety in Industry Act or any other legislation, that safety officers have a statutory right to enter construction sites to make certain that safety regulations covered by legislation are being implemented?
I met the deputation from Moneypoint who came here on a day's protest highlighting the difficulties they have experienced and the enormous range of accidents that have occurred. I undertook to meet them with the representatives from the construction industry committee of the ICTU. I have received correspondence from the secretary of that committee and a date has been set for a meeting. Everybody accepts that the existing legislation covering safety in industry is inadequate. It covers only 20 per cent of the workforce. The proposals of Barrington, which I am pleased to say were cleared at Cabinet today and will now go to the parliamentary draftsman, will extend it to 100 per cent of the workforce. This will provide a framework for the sort of safety system we require and which we can afford.
I am not in a position to say if on a general basis a safety officer can go into a construction site. I have not the information directly to hand but I will try to get it for the Deputy. As I indicated in my reply, safety regulations concern only some general aspects of operations on construction sites, not their entirety. It was this unsatisfactory aspect which was brought to my attention by the deputation. The extension of the 1980 Safety in Industry Act, with all the rigidities denounced by Barrington, has been considered by me and my Department. We are not proposing to go down that road but to proceed full steam ahead with the Barrington proposals.
Is the Minister satisfied that the implementation of the proposals he has in mind will reduce the dangers or increase the safety aspects considerably on construction sites? Will it also cover hazards at work such as noise and dust levels in factories?
As we become an increasingly industrialised society, handling complex and dangerous processes, we have to instil by way of education and persuasion a responsible attitude among workers and managers towards their own safety. It cannot be imposed from outside. The cost of conscientiously supervising such a regime would be prohibitive and not necessarily as effective as the personal assumption of responsibility for safety. That was the fundamental principle of Barrington's recommendations. In order for people to exercise their rights to look after themselves and to take due precautions, there has to be a framework within which they have the right to have safety committees with workers' representatives. They also need access to information and the right of inspection where that is appropriate. The steps we have taken to date, which have the full support of both sides of industry, are the right steps. I welcome the concern expressed by the Deputy and I propose to proceed to implement the legislation in 1986.
I take it that the Bill will be processed this year. Will the legislation cover safety on offshore oil rigs? There was a dispute about that approximately a year ago.
There is separate legislation which will be coming before the House. It has been a long time in preparation but will be debated between now and June, subject to the agreement of the Whips.