Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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129. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of reports that have been made to the Health and Safety Authority since the beginning of 2017 regarding unsafe climbing and operation of construction site cranes by unqualified and under-qualified personnel or unsafe use of construction cranes; the number of inspections by HSA personnel that followed; and the findings in each instance. [39175/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Health and Safety Authority that since the beginning of 2017 there have been thirty-five (35) reports or complaints made to the Authority pertaining to the issues referred to in the Deputy’s question.

In line with the Authority’s normal operational policies, where specific complaints are made to the Authority its response can include engagement with the duty holder through the Workplace Contact Unit and/or complaint investigation by the inspectorate.

The Authority’s response to each individual complaint is based on the opinion of the individual inspector, based on the facts and evidence obtained at the sites that directs any enforcement action to be taken. The inspectors assigned by the Authority to the complaints relating to crane operation have relevant professional qualifications and extensive construction inspection and investigation experience.

The Authority has advised that in relation to the complaints received in 2017 in relation to crane use on construction sites the following indicates a breakdown of the findings which are based on twenty (20) site investigations and fifteen (15) interventions by the Authority’s workplace contact unit and inspectors.

It was found that in 62% of instances the inspector found there was no evidence to substantiate the complaint or that the evidence that was provided to the Authority, that indicated the complaint, could not be substantiated.

In 9% of instances the site or work to which the complaint related was complete and therefore the complaint could not be investigated.

It was also found that in 23% of instances that there was some evidence to support the complaint and in all these circumstances the Authority issued written advice to the duty holder to remedy the matters observed.

In one case there was found to be clear evidence to support the complaint and a Prohibition Notice was served on site.

In one other case a dangerous occurrence was verified by the Authority. In this case the workplace contact unit made contact with the company involved and discussed the allegations. The company acknowledged that an incident had occurred. A completed reportable dangerous occurrence for (IR3 Form) was requested from the company. A formal site investigation also took place and it was found that the company has taken appropriate remedial actions including ‘standing down’ the contractor involved for 2 days, retraining of personnel involved, disciplinary actions on workers responsible, and a safety alert to all other sites under their control.