Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 558: To ask the Minister for Defence if all the portable electrical equipment in his Department and in the Defence Forces have portable appliance test certificates as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation S.I. No. 299 of 2007; if not, the reason for same; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a PAT must be carried out on all moveable electrical equipment in offices, centres and so on, to ensure the safety and welfare of both employees and employers; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that records of all such tests must be kept for at least five years to allow the Health and Safety Authority to carry out random spot checks and that insurance companies and underwriters are already seeking proof of compliance prior to renewal of policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/10]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is the policy of my Department and the Defence Forces to comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, S.I. No 299 of 2007. Monthly safety inspections in all places of work are conducted at Unit level in the Defence Forces and where repairs / works are identified the issue is brought to the attention of higher commanders for resolution. Currently the Defence Forces are conducting Workshop Risk Reviews in all formations of fixed electrical equipment operated in Defence Forces workshops.

As part of the Works Programme for 2010 a programme for the inspection, by a competent person, of Portable Electrical Equipment will be conducted in accordance with Regulation 81 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 S.I. No 299 of 2007 and the Guide to the Maintenance, Inspection and Testing of Portable Equipment (Electrical Appliances and Tools) in the workplace (ET 215:2008) as issued by Electro-Technical Council of Ireland. In addition to internal monitoring the State Claims Agency conducts annual audits, to OHSAS 18001: 2007 standard, on all Formation HQ's and twelve randomly selected Units throughout the Defence Forces annually.