Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health and Safety of Workers.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

114 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the incidence of asbestos related mesothelioma among people who have been engaged in certain categories of employment; if she has satisfied herself that workers who run the risk of exposure to the causes of the condition are adequately protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18478/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I am aware that figures provided to the Health and Safety Authority by the National Cancer Registry show an increase in recent years in the number of mesothelioma-related deaths. There were ten such deaths in 1994 and 16 in 1995. A full set of figures in not yet available for 1996.

The Health and Safety Authority enforces legislation for the protection of workers from exposure to asbestos. The specific regulations are entitled the European Communities (Protection of Workers) (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations, 1989 and the European Communities (Protection of Workers) (Exposure to Asbestos) (Amendment) Regulations, 1993. The Authority does not deal with asbestos disposal or asbestos in the general environment.

In 1997 and again this year the Authority has concentrated on worker protection from exposure to asbestos. In 1997 a total of 108 inspections involving asbestos were carried out and 22 improvement notices and four prohibition notices were served as a direct consequence of this action. A minimum of 100 asbestos inspections are planned for 1998 and the main focus this year is on asbestos removal contractors. Numerous improvement notices and prohibition notices have been served to date in 1998 as part of this work.

At its meeting on 7 April 1998 the Council of Ministers for Labour and Social Affairs adopted Council conclusions on the protection of workers against risks from exposure to asbestos. Ireland strongly supported these conclusions which state that the highest risks from asbestos exposure are now faced by workers involved in the removal of asbestos and by workers who encounter asbestos incidentally to their work, for example, construction workers, demolition workers and tradespersons who inadvertently disturb asbestos in the course of their work. The conclusions specify preventive actions which would help to further protect these groups of workers. Such actions include higher standards of worker protection, competence and training of workers.

The European Commission has indicated that it will act on these Council conclusions and Ireland will be very supportive of any resulting proposals which will achieve an improvement in worker protection from exposure to asbestos.