Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)

The purpose of Workers' Memorial Day is to remember the dead and fight for the living. It is a memorial to remember all those killed through work, while at the same time ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated. The best way to do this is to ensure better health and safety in addition to stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health and safety laws in the workplace.

Figures for workplace fatalities in the Twenty-six Counties are increasing, even though construction figures are at an all time low. We have a large amount of unemployment. It should be worrying for workers and their families, trade unions, employers and the Government that unsafe practices have increased despite the economic climate. So far this year, 14 people have died in the workplace.

More stringent health and safety regulations are long overdue. Sinn Féin has consistently argued the case for the urgent introduction of legislation that will put corporate killing on a statutory footing. When the figures are analysed, one has to ask why such legislation has not been introduced.

It is not unreasonable to assume that some employers may take a cost-benefit approach to the implementation of health and safety requirements in the workplace. For example, it may cost more to arrange a safer traffic management system in the workplace, or to replace damaged machinery, than to pay a fine that would be imposed on the offending company should the death of an employee occur on the job. While this may seem a cynical opinion of companies, it is not without warrant.

It should not be the case that a company responsible for the death of a worker through its own negligence can argue that any fine imposed is unduly severe. It hardly acts as an incentive for companies to comply with the inadequate health and safety legislative requirements that currently exist. A system that allows reckless employers to get off scot free for the death of an employee must not be allowed to continue. The possible prosecution of individuals could be the key to reducing workplace deaths. Checks and balances are required to ensure that all possible steps are taken, including keeping safety equipment and signage up to standard.

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