Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions study which found Irish employees report higher than average levels of physical violence in the workplace at a rate of 8% compared with the level of 5% across the EU; and his plans to rectify this problem. [8552/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I note the recent publication of the "Fourth European Working Conditions Survey" conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

The survey, which was conducted in 2005 covering nearly 30,000 workers in 31 countries, shows that bullying or harassment, violence or the threat of violence, and various forms of discrimination all contribute to psychological ill-health and stress. Around 5% of workers across the EU reported having experienced some form of violence, bullying or harassment in the workplace in the previous 12 month period.

In general, exposure to violence and threats of violence was greater in northern Europe, with higher than average levels reported in the Netherlands (10%), France and the UK (both9%) and Ireland (8%).

Apart from the survey, I understand that 4% of accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority in 2006 were triggered by 'shock, fright, violence of others'. Such incidents consistently feature in the top five accident triggers.

The percentage of violent incidents is particularly high in some sectors, 17% of all accidents in the 'Public Administration/Defence' and 16% in the 'Health and Social Work' sectors respectively were triggered by 'shock, fright, violence of others'. These sectors also reported the highest proportion of violent incidents in 2004 and 2005.

The incident type statistics are also relevant. Incidents categorised as 'injured by person — violent' account for 4% of all reported accidents in 2006, with this figure rising to 22% of incidents in 'Public Administration/Defence' and 12% in 'Health and Social Work'. It is obvious from looking at these figures that violence to workers is a significant issue in the public sector.

The figures from both the European survey and the Health and Safety Authority certainly give cause for concern. It would appear that an issue needing attention is the general attitude to increasing workplace violence. Prevention is the best policy and there is a way of addressing the problem in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. If violence is a hazard in workplaces, employers are required to address how to deal with it and prepare a plan to implement any necessary preventive control measures when carrying out a risk assessment as part of the Safety Statement which is required by law.

I understand that the National Workplace Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which is currently being reviewed by the Health and Safety Authority will recommend a more proactive role by employers in minimising the risk of violence to employees. The Health and Safety Authority will also carry out inspections in relation to violence in the healthcare sector in 2007. Already, the Authority has published general guidance on the prevention of violence at work and specific guidance on the prevention of violence in healthcare as well as for the cash in transit industry.

Also, I wish to add that a survey completed in Ireland in 2001, updating of which is almost completed by the ESRI, revealed that 7% of workers experienced bullying in the previous 6 month period. The emerging comparator figure on the updated research carried out in late 2006 and early this year is 7.9%.

Finally, it must be remembered that violence to any person should not be tolerated, regardless of whether they are at work or not. It is a criminal matter and should be brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána.