Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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427. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has access to an up-to-date register of workplace health and safety representatives in those businesses which have recently reopened; and the method by which her officials are communicating with workplace health and safety representatives. [11008/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no statutory function in maintaining a register of workplace health and safety representatives.

Sections 25 and 26 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 make provision for the selection and appointment of Safety Representatives and the consultation and participation of employees. I am advised by the Health and Safety Authority that they do not keep a register of safety representatives selected by workers under Section 26 of the 2005 Act. However, inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority do keep a record of any communications they have with safety representatives at a place of work.

The Return to Work Safely Protocol specifically recommends that an employer should appoint a least one-worker representative whose role is to work collaboratively with the employer to assist in the implementation of the public health measures set out in the Protocol and monitor adherence to the measures to prevent the spread of COVID -19. In relation to inspections carried out since 18 May 2020 inspectors found that 756 COVID-19 worker representatives have been appointed which was 53% of the total inspections. Health and Safety Authority inspectors would have communicated with these worker representatives as they met them on inspections. In cases where there was no worker representatives as yet appointed, the HSA would have noted this in the inspection report and requested the appointment of a worker representative as soon as possible and noted this for follow up.

The Health and Safety Authority has produced a range of checklists, including a specific Worker Representative Checklist, and templates to help employers, employees, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again. In the course of inspections and through the Health and Safety Authority’s helpline every assistance is being given to employers and employees in adhering to the Protocol and adapting to new ways of working.

The Health and Safety Authority has produced a range of checklists, including a specific Worker Representative Checklist, and templates to help employers, employees, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again. In the course of inspections and through the Health and Safety Authority’s helpline every assistance is being given to employers and employees in adhering to the Protocol and adapting to new ways of working.