Michael Smith
Ceist:12 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence what immediate steps, if any, he is taking to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the safety review group. [14636/96]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Health and Safety Report.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the report of the Advisory Committee on the Defence Forces to the Health and Safety Authority which was published in 1994. A Defence Forces advisory committee on health and safety, comprising both civilian and military personnel, has been engaged in directing and monitoring a comprehensive implementation of the provisions of the Health (Safety and Welfare at Work) Act, 1989.
The 1994 report to the Health and Safety Authority acknowledged the excellent work undertaken by the Defence Forces and made recommendations in the light of the work which had already been done in the area which the report acknowledged as being a constantly evolving process. The report made recommendations in the following areas: management and promotion of occupational safety and health in the Defence Forces; reporting of accidents and dangerous occurrences; consultation at barrack level; education and training. The recommendations made in these areas are being addressed under the auspices of the Defence Forces advisory committee.
The report specifically acknowledged the excellent work done by the Defence Forces in the area of education and training and suggested a policy of continued education and training throughout the Defence Forces. In this regard, the following measures are ongoing: each command is running courses for manual handling, fire and first aid in addition to safety officers and safety representative courses, and by the end of 1996 all personnel who require manual handling training will be fully trained; to date over 30 personnel have attended the UCD diploma course in safety; 27 NCOs have obtained certificates in safety through UCD; the Defence Forces safety officers course is now a recognised course by the National Irish Safety Organisation.