Minister Fahey Seeks More Action to Ensure the Health and Safety of Construction Workers

Minister for Labour Affairs Frank Fahey has today set out a number of measures which he intends to pursue in an effort to protect construction workers. Minister Fahey said "As the Minister with responsibility for occupational health and safety, I am all too aware that accidents will always occur, no matter how much effort is put into prevention. Notwithstanding this however, I am not satisfied with the high levels of fatalities and serious accidents which are occurring within the construction sector, despite various initiatives. This is simply unacceptable.

"It is my intention to invite, as a matter of urgency, the Construction Industry Federation and the Unions concerned to discuss issues which need to be addressed, including:

Why are significant levels of training not having a more positive effect?

Why do employers appear to be ignoring established Codes of practice?

What do we need to do to ensure a culture of health and safety compliance in this dangerous industry?

"In addition, I have asked the Health and Safety Authority to give me details of all prosecutions in the last twelve months. I must reiterate to all the players within the industry that I will do my utmost to ensure that breaches in health and safety legislation will result in prosecutions. I welcome the recent actions of Justice Kelly, in holding the employer accountable for serious health and safety legislation breaches on his construction site. Custodial sentences are needed to make the industry sit up and take notice. I can also assure construction workers that the forthcoming revised Health, Safety and Welfare at Work will place greater responsibilities on employers and will introduce heavier fines for health and safety breaches.

"I am particularly conscious of tragic accidents which have involved trench collapses during excavation. In response to these accidents, I have instructed the HSA to draft and enforce a Code of Practice on Below Ground Working as soon as possible.

"I will not allow serious accidents and fatalities to be met by indifference, and will do my utmost to protect those at work in the construction industry."