Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has received any communication regarding the installation of sub-standard driver seating on public transport buses and the possible health effects on employees; if, in view of the heightened public awareness regarding safety on public transport, he has satisfied himself that adequate mechanisms to ensure the health and safety of passengers and drivers are in place throughout the public transport system; if he has received any communications on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department has no record of communication of the nature referred to in the Deputy's question. However, I am aware that the Health and Safety Authority has received representations concerning whole-body vibration as it affects bus drivers. My Department does not have overall responsibility for public transport matters, or public transport safety matters specifically, except to the extent that occupational safety, health and welfare legislation, which is administered and enforced by the Health and Safety Authority, applies to employees in the sector, as it does to employees in every sector of the economy.

Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents — vibration — applies to activities in which workers are or are likely to be exposed to risks from mechanical vibration during their work. It relates to hand-arm vibration and whole body vibration and will include vehicles with poor suspension or with badly designed or positioned controls which require drivers to adopt a poor driving posture.

The Health and Safety Authority is currently consulting publicly on proposals for draft new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, one part of which concerns the transposition of Directive 2002/44/EC.