Vol. 513 No. 1
439 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of accidents which have happened in each of the public hospitals in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and the hospitals which have appointed health and safety officers. [1312/00]
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.
The Health and Safety Authority has provided the following information relating to the number of reported accidents in the hospital sector in each of the years from 1997 to 1999. The numbers of occupational accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority, from the NACE classified economic sector hospital activities in each of the years are: 1997, 291; 1998, 257; 1999, 281.
It is not possible to provide a separate breakdown of these reported accidents between the different areas of the health services sector.
Employers are required to report to the Health and Safety Authority workplace accidents to employees that result in more than three days absence from work. The above data would, therefore, not include occupational accidents resulting in less than three days absence from work. In addition, it is estimated that the authority is notified only of about 30% of reportable accidents across all economic sectors.
