Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of fatalities on construction sites in 2004 and 2005; if an assurance will be given that the deceased were fully trained in respect of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6406/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the Health and Safety Authority that there were 23 construction fatalities in 2005, plus one further fatality from the transport, storage and communications sector that occurred on a construction site. Of these 23 fatalities, 21 were employees, one was a member of the public and another was a non-construction worker. In 2004 there were 16 construction fatalities, plus two fatalities from other sectors that occurred on construction sites.

In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2001, there is a duty on employers to ensure that their employees have been trained to a standard appropriate to the level of work they are undertaking. Furthermore, the construction regulations set specific standards of training for all construction workers for operations of a general nature in construction and lay down additional specific requirements for persons working in potentially high-risk areas, such as the erection of scaffolding and the operation of many different types of plant and machinery.

If, in the course of an investigation into a fatal accident, evidence comes to light that a deceased worker was not adequately trained and, in particular, if there is evidence that this alleged lack of training contributed to the accident under investigation, such evidence will be brought to the attention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Prosecution for such an offence, which is a matter for the director to decide, could lead to a criminal conviction, a substantial monetary penalty and/or a possible term of imprisonment.

Health and Safety Authority inspectors have investigated these fatalities in 2004 and 2005 and in many of the cases a file was prepared for consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

On safety training in the construction industry in general, to date almost 500,000 people have received training in the Safe Pass safety awareness programme. This programme is required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2001 for all workers on construction sites, or workers who are likely to work on such sites. In addition, more than 15,000 people per year have received construction skills certification scheme training or certification as specified by the regulations for activities such as scaffolding, plant driving, roofing and slinging/signalling.