Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Health and Safety Regulations

9:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the numbers of deaths and injuries reported arising from accidents in the construction sector in each year from 2000 to 2004; the further steps he intends to take to reduce the level of such accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12111/05]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, the State body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health has provided the key figures for construction industry for the last five years which are set out in the table.

These figures show an overall increase in the number of accidents reported and a slight decrease in the rate of fatalities when taken over a five year period. However, the expansion in construction employment, which has increased from 166,300 in 2000 to 206,000 in 2004, has an effect on the number of reportable accidents. The increase in reported accidents can also be partly attributed to better reporting as management systems are put in place and include an accident reporting mechanism.

In 2004 the Health and Safety Authority inspectors visited over 5,000 construction sites and closed 26, one by court order and 25 by agreement. The construction sector is one of the two priority areas targeted by the authority because of its size, the number of risks which exist and the number of accidents in the sector. This targeting will continue in 2005.

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Fatalities 15 17 21 13 15
Total Employed 166,300 180,200 188,500 190,400 206,000*
Rate per 100,000 9.0 9.4 11.1 6.4 7.3*
Accidents Reported 1,108 1,059 1,121 1,031 1,474*
* Figures for 2004 are provisional.

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