Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the 34% increase in the number of deaths recorded in workplace accidents during 2007; the proposals she has to ensure a reduction in the number of workplace accidents and deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30925/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace accidents and workplace fatalities recorded to date in 2008; the way this compares with the same period in each year from 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30927/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the significant increase in the number of deaths recorded in workplace accidents in the construction sector during 2007; the proposals she has to ensure a reduction in the number of construction accidents and deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30926/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 141 and 159 together.

The number of deaths recorded in workplace accidents during 2007 was 67 compared to 51 in 2006 with a considerable amount of this increase being accounted for by a number of fishing accidents.

Of the 2007 total, 18 occurred in the construction sector. This was an increase of 5 fatal accidents on the 2006 figure. The construction sector ranked third in relation to fatality rates, at 5 per 100,000 workers, in 2007. This figure is higher than the rate of 4.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers in 2006 (the lowest recorded rate for the sector) but maintains the general downward trend in the fatality rate seen since 2002.

There have been 46 workplace deaths reported to the Authority so far in 2008 (22.09.08). For the first eight months, there were 43 workplace deaths. For the first eight months of the previous years, the figures are: 47 in 2007; 42 in 2006; 60 in 2005; 35 in 2004; 45 in 2003; and 40 in 2002.

Construction and agriculture are consistently the highest risk sectors in which to work, based on the number of fatalities.

Non-fatal accidents, resulting in absence of more than three days from normal work following the accident, are required to be reported to the Authority. There were 7,757 non-fatal work related accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority in 2007. The most up-to-date comparative figures that are available to the Authority at the moment refer to the first six months of those years. For the first six months of 2008, there were 4,821 non-fatal accidents reported to the Authority. This compares to 3,865 non-fatal accidents reported in the first six months of 2007, 4,001 for the same period in 2006, 3,841 for 2005, 3,419 for 2004, 2,096 for 2003, and 1,823 for 2002.

Safe workplaces can only truly be delivered by those who work in them. Responsibility for safety at work rests ultimately on the shoulders of employers and employees.

However, I am on record as having voiced the Government's concerns at the increase in fatalities both generally and in the construction sector. The Health and Safety Authority is an independent Agency charged with the statutory responsibility for promoting an awareness of health and safety in the workplace and enforcing health and safety legislation.

Based on its own risk assessment, the Authority is prioritising in 2008, the high-risk sectors of agriculture, construction, transportation and storage as well as mines and quarries. It continues to work with employer and employee organisations to make safety and health an integral part of doing business in every workplace.

In relation to the construction sector, I am informed that the Authority has plans to carry out 7,000 construction-site inspections in 2008. Also, it will continue to implement the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 and the Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP).

I formally launched the Construction Safety Partnership Plan 2008-2010 on Tuesday, 17th June 2008. The Construction Safety Partnership (CSP) includes representatives of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and other relevant Agencies and Government Departments and its overall aim is to achieve the highest possible standard of safety, health and welfare in Irish construction.