Minister Michael Ahern opens SIPTU Seminar on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005

Minister Michael Ahern T.D., Minister for Trade and Commerce today (Friday 11th November 2005) opened a SIPTU Seminar on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, in the Metropole Hotel, Cork.

The new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act updates and amends the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. The Act, which was signed into law by the President on 22^nd June 2005 last, and which came into force on 1^st September, is a result of the first major review of occupational health and safety since the report of Mr Justice Barrington in 1983, which led to the 1989 Act and the setting-up of the Health and Safety Authority.

Addressing the seminar the Minister said, "The primary focus in the Act is on prevention. It provides also for significantly increased fines and penalties to deter the minority who flout health and safety laws. It includes a scheme for on-the-spot fines though regulations. It provides that directors and managers can be held liable if complicit in deaths and accidents. The Act is a serious wake-up call for employers and for workers who ignore safety and health and sends a direct signal to employers and employees alike that they need to act together on safety and health if the national record is to be improved".

The Minister pointed to the growth of Ireland's economy over the past decade. This growth has led to more people in employment in the country than ever before - an increase from 1.2 million in 1989 to the figure of 2 million today.

"Figures also show that ill-health at work damages the economy to an estimated cost of €1.6bn annually. Accidents cause immense pain and suffering to individuals and their families, 70 killed in 2003, 50 in 2004 and 63 to date this year. Although there was more than a 25% reduction in the rate of deaths at work since 1989 and 2004, it is still unacceptable because of the simple fact that most accidents are preventable," the Minister said.

"We have achieved much since the 1989 Act but we need to redouble our efforts to drive down the level and the costs of accidents and ill-health at work. Workplace safety is paramount. It is a basic entitlement. However there are huge responsibilities on all parties. We must all recognise, as individuals, the part that each one of us can and must play to ensure safety in the workplace. The Act focuses on the responsibilities and obligations of both employers and employees in this regard" he continued.

The Minister referred to the most common causes of accidents at work including slips, trips and falls. Bad lifting habits can also result in back injury, which research has shown are preventable at low cost. And he referred to evidence from the Health and Safety Authority that up to one half of small companies do little or nothing to prevent accidents at work and make no investment in preventing accidents. "This is inexcusable as there is enormous positive payback for investment in occupational safety and health" he said.

"Now that the work has been completed on the Act the next concern is to complete and sign into law the Construction Regulations and the General Application Regulations. Both sets of regulations are in the final phase of completion by the HSA. The construction regulations will bring the regulation of the industry into line with requirements under the new Act. The general application regulations will modernise the existing code by filling in most of the framework to which the Act applies and will deal with health and safety matters relating to signage, worker protective equipment, manual handling, electricity, first aid, night and shift work, pregnant employees and young persons" the Minister said.

The Minister thanked all who were attending the seminar for their interest in workplace safety, and hoped that the seminar proved to be a great success.

"I appeal to all parties do more work to promote awareness of the need for a safe work environment which has benefits for workers, employers and for society generally" he concluded.

ENDS / TC188