Speech by Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs at the Launch of THE REPORT of the Advisory Committee on the Health Services Sector to the Health and Safety Authority on Tuesday 1st May, 2001

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me here this morning to launch the Report of the Advisory Committee on the Health Services Sector to the Health and Safety Authority.

The health services sector is a significant and important sector in Ireland, not just in terms of the level and range of employment in the Sector, but also in terms of the broad-based services it provides to the Community at large. Therefore, the collective safety, health and welfare of the sector should be of concern to all of us.

This Report is an invaluable in-depth sectoral analysis of the main occupational health and safety issues affecting the health services sector from the obvious such as manual handling to the, perhaps less-thought of issues such as safety surrounding contact with, and usage of, chemicals.

It is over eight years, since the first Report of the Advisory Committee on the Health Services Sector was published in 1992. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, itself was in many respects still in its infancy in terms of impact. Since that time, however, the general public awareness perceptions, and indeed, expectations in relation to workplace health and safety have increased and broadened enormously.

This well-structured and informative Report, which I am pleased to launch here this morning, will not only serve as a useful review and update on health and safety in the health services sector since 1992, but will also undoubtedly be an invaluable practical reference document for all managers and staff in the sector. Indeed, it clearly maps the way forward for the proper management of health and safety across the sector as a whole. I recently launched the Report of the Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying. In both that Report and in this Report, the fundamental necessity of proper, well-structured, pro-active health and safety management comes through time and time again. Prevention of workplace accidents and ill-health does not happen of its own accord. Prevention is dependent on proper management in the first instance. And yes, of course, employees have significant duties and responsibilities towards themselves and towards others. But part of managing properly is ensuring that there are appropriate structures in place to encourage and facilitate appropriate staff action, input and representation.

While the main findings and recommendations of the Report will be dealt with by Lenore, I would like to make particular reference to the frightening statistics concerning assaults against health care workers. In 1994, the percentage of accidents due to assault, as reported by health care workers, was 8.2%. By 1999 this had increased to 17%. The most likely areas where aggression and violence may occur are in the accident and emergency Departments of hospitals, in psychiatric and in learning disability units. Community workers, nurses, medical and paramedical staff are also in danger of aggression and violence.But, as this Report categorically states, aggression and violence in the workplace is unacceptable - no level of violence should be accepted as "part of the job". The Report acknowledges that the incidents of aggression and violence do increasingly occur, but points out that it is critical that such incidents are addressed systematically by health care organisations.

The Health and Safety Authority, as the State agency with responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace health and safety legislation will continue to work closely with all parties in the health services sector in order to improve health and safety standards in that sector. In the context of its 2001 Work Programme, the Authority has already identified the health sector as a priority area of activity. This Report has now highlighted and recommended further specific strategies which the Authority can employ in order to bring about further improvement.

The health services sector is very much a "people-based" sector, both in terms of its employment base and its client base. Given that so many of its clients are availing of health services because of an illness, a condition or a trauma - essentially for something that is beyond their control - there are very particular social and human interactions at play. Every member of our Community will, at some stage, either on their own behalf or on behalf of a member of their family, need to seek the professional help and assistance of the health service workers. If we do not protect the safety, health and welfare of those workers, we are not only letting them down, but we are letting down the Community as a whole.

I would like to commend and thank all the members of the Health Services Advisory Committee for their hard work, their insight and their dedication in producing this Report. I would, of course, like to make special mention of Lenore Mrkwicka for her excellent Chairmanship of the Committee, and to the staff of the Health and Safety Authority who provided administrative support. I look forward to listening to Lenore’s presentation on the Report and its main Recommendations.

Thank you.