Vol. 510 No. 5
14 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by medical workers' unions on the failure to implement adequate safety procedures in hospitals following the report of the Health and Safety Authority which found that violent attack is the second greatest cause of injury to doctors and nurses; the steps, if any he will take on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22861/99]
The Health and Safety Authority has overall responsibility for advising on and enforcing health and safety legislation and regulations. Health agencies, as with all other employers, have the responsibility for ensuring workplace health and safety.
Health agencies need to be aware of the importance of their responsibilities under health and safety legislation. My Department has met with the Health and Safety Authority and it is currently in the process of forging strategic alliances with the country's eight health boards to promote their common objectives in the area of workplace health and safety. The Health and Safety Authority will work with health agencies to identify and prioritise the principal factors affecting safety and health in the health sector and encourage and support the development of good practices.
The Health and Safety Authority is also currently establishing an advisory committee on the health services sector under section 17 of the Health Safety and Welfare Act 1989. The committee will identify and prioritise the principal factors affecting health and safety in the health sector, having regard to the previous advisory committee report of 1992 and report to the authority its recommendations.
