I have no plans at present to introduce statutory safety standards in relation to groundhandling operations at Irish airports. I understand that the advice of the Health and Safety Authority is that, unless a case is established for such, the industry should agree on current best practice standards and apply those. The authority carries out a regular inspection of airport activities to which the health and safety laws apply, including compliance with duties imposed on either those who control workplaces or who employ workers.
Groundhandling companies which are approved, under the regulations to implement the groundhandling directive, to operate at Irish airports receive their approval on the basis that they will comply with the requirements of both the airport manager at that airport, and the airlines with whom they contract, as regards each organisation's technical and safety standards for groundhandling operations.
In addition, they are also subject to the health and safety legislation in the normal manner and to the bye-laws in force at airports as regards safe working practices.
When airlines use sub-contractors to provide ground handling services, it is the airlines' responsibility in the first instance to satisfy themselves as to the adequacy of the standards, procedures, equipment and training of the service provider. The Irish Aviation Authority – IAA – as the regulatory body responsible for the safety and technical aspects of civil aviation, monitors the activities of airlines in this regard. Aircraft operators are responsible to the IAA for ensuring that the ground services they have contracted for are properly and safely rendered.
The general standards which airport authorities require ground handling companies to meet are in addition to the regulatory requirements set out above.
