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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 2

Written Answers. - Construction Industry.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

53 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons killed and injured in accidents on building sites during 1998 and the first nine months of 1999; the plans, if any, she has to increase the level of penalties for breaches of the health and safely legislation by the construction industry; the plans, if any, she has to sanction the appointment of additional inspectors to ensure greater compliance; if she will appoint safety auditors for building sites as sought by union representatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21991/99]

The administration, enforcement and promotion of occupational health and safety legislation is a day-to-day matter for the national authority for occupational safety and ealth, known as the Health and Safety Authority. Statistical information concerning the number of workplace fatalities and injuries is collected by the Health and Safety Authority. The authority's recently launched 1998 annual report shows that there was 22 fatalities in the construction sector in 1998, with seven other fatalities occurring as a result of construction related activities. Information on the number of persons killed or injured in workplace accidents in the first nine months of 1999 is obtainable directly from the authority at 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2.

The Health and Safety Authority is, at my request, currently undertaking a review of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, and associated legislation, and I expect to receive proposals from the authority before the end of the year on any improvements in the legislation that may be considered necessary, including the provisions relating to safety consultation, safety representation, enforcement and penalty provisions.
The proper management of workplace health and safety in all sectors of employment is based on the principles of legislation, enforcement, information and partnership. The resourcing of the Health and Safety Authority is not the only determining factor in ensuring proper compliance with occupational health and safety legislation. Inspection is but one element in the drive to improve safety standards in all sectors of employment. While the primary statutory duty of care to ensure a safe place of work rests with the employer, joint responsibility, commitment and participation from all sides is necessary to foster safe work practices at ground level. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work on behalf of the authority in order to make available the necessary resources to enable it to properly carry out its statutory functions. The Government is well aware of the excellent work being done by the authority to both promote greater awareness of health and safety as well as enforce obligations on all in the workplace, and indeed, in all sectors of employment and not just in the construction sector.
In view of the most recent construction related deaths, I met with the Health and Safety Authority, and also with representatives of both sides of industry to discuss the overall approach to health and safety in the construction sector. Following subsequent detailed discussions between the authority, ICTU and CIF, the Construction Safety Partnership was launched. This represents the true spirit of partnership in that it has been negotiated and will be implemented by those most directly concerned. The Construction Safety Partnership is to produce a construction industry safety plan within three months, which will incorporate the recommendations of both the Forum for the Construction Industry and the authority's construction advisory committee and will include proposals related to consultation and safety representation. I look forward to receiving this plan in due course.
In addition to the Construction Safety Partnership, a construction site safety representatives pilot programme, has also been launched recently. This pilot programme will benefit directly the participating projects and will also generate an awareness of health and safety amongst all employers and employees, and by presenting a united front the message will go out that a safety representative system can work if there is a willingness on both sides to make it work. I can assure the Deputy that genuine efforts are being made on all fronts by all parties to promote improved health and safety standards in the construction sector and I will continue to offer my support in any way I can to the parties concerned.
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