Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Health and Safety Regulations

9:00 pm

Photo of Mary WallaceMary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 649: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details of the allowances made in health and safety instruction for building site workers and other similar workers to ensure that employees whose first language is not English understand the health and safety instruction and guidance provided; his views on whether a lack of understanding of such instruction gives rise to danger to all employees working in such an environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24426/05]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A lack of clear communication and of understanding in any workplace could potentially pose a risk to the health and safety of the workers therein. It is clear that the construction sector has many workers who do not have English as a first language and, accordingly, it is appropriate that employers and those who are in control of workplaces in this country put in place clear systems of communication to ensure that all safety critical information is conveyed clearly to all workers in the workplace.

Section 9 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the type of information on safety, health and welfare required to be given by employers to employees. It specifies that the information must be in a form, manner and language that can be understood. It must include information on hazards, risks and measures taken as regards safety, health and welfare and the names of emergency staff and safety representatives.

Furthermore, under section 20 of the 2005 Act, an employer is obliged to prepare a written safety statement, based on the identification of hazards and an assessment of risks. This statement, which sets out how the safety, health and welfare of the employees will be secured and managed, also must be in a form, manner and, as appropriate, language that can be understood.

In addition to the statutory obligations set out above, the Health and Safety Authority recognises the new challenges that the growth of non-English speaking people within the workforce brings. This is evidenced by the launch this year of a new authority initiative — safe system of work plan, SSWP — aimed at reducing injuries and deaths on construction sites. The initiative relies heavily on pictograms to explain and clarify hazards and controls, thereby creating a wordless document where safety can be communicated to all workers regardless of literacy or language skills. The safe system of work plan aims to focus on those in the construction industry who are most at risk, allowing them to ensure that all necessary safety controls are in place prior to the commencement of planned work. In addition, work is currently under way to produce the safe system of work plan in a number of different languages.

The new statutory provisions in the 2005 Act and the safe system of work plan initiatives are aimed at meeting the new challenges evolving in our economy due to the changing nature of the workforce.

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