Zero tolerance for building accidents as 300,000 receive training

More than 300,000 people involved in the Irish construction industry have received training over the past five years in basic safety on building sites.

The training programme was initiated in 1999 following the setting up of the Construction Safety Partnership, representing employers, employees and Government agencies.

It was designed to reduce the previous high levels of injuries and fatalities in the construction sector.

The Department of Labour Affairs is finalising a major review of health and safety legislation and expects to introduce new legislation in the Dáil shortly.

The new Bill will provide for increased penalties, including heavy fines and terms of imprisonment of up to two years, and the introduction of on-the-spot fines, for a range of breaches of the health and safety code.

According to Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern: "There will also be considerable attention paid to matters like the duties of employers, employees and safety representatives, and new requirements on people who design or commission places of work.

"Among its most significant achievements to date is that all involved in the building industry must now obtain a Safe Pass, a basic safety-training certificate, which is mandatory for all industry employees.

"The aim is to have zero accidents in the sector," Ahern added.

Ahern was speaking at a European Union conference of labour inspectors today.