Employers could face jail over safety breaches

New rules aimed at making workplaces safer came into force today with employers that flout the laws warned they face two years in jail or fines of up to €3m.

Latest figures revealed 49 people had been killed at work so far this year, prompting the Health and Safety Authority to launch a national campaign to push for improved compliance.

Bosses and employees have been urged to take responsibility for preventing injury and death or face on the spot fines of up to €1,000. Those convicted on indictment of serious breaches of the rules could face two years in jail or a €3m fine.

Tom Beegan, HAS chief executive, called on workers and managers to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities and take the necessary steps to meet them.

“Today marks the dawn of a new era in occupational health and safety and provides us all with a golden opportunity to take stock of where we are at in health and safety terms, and of what we need to do to fully comply with the law and make our workplaces safe and healthy,” he said.

“Children across the country are going back to school, but for adults too there are safety lessons to learn, and I hope that from here on in, we can learn the lessons of prevention and no longer learn the hard way, through bitter experience.”

The ‘Get Informed – Get Safe’ national campaign began last week raising awareness of the new workplace laws. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 aims to prevent injuries and deaths in the workplace and sets out the duties of staff and management alike.

Other provisions outlined in the Act allow for fines of up to €3,000 for minor offences and those found guilty on summary conviction could be hit with six months behind bars.

It also sets out the responsibilities of other parties such as the designers of workplaces and work equipment and the suppliers of goods for use in the workplace.

Under the rules employees must not be under the influence of an intoxicant at work, not engage in improper conduct or behaviour, wear personal protective clothing where necessary, cooperate with employers and not do anything which would place themselves or others at risk.

HSA figures showed 13 people died in the construction industry this year, while there were 12 deaths in the agriculture, forestry and hunting sectors. Mining, quarrying and manufacturing saw a total of 10 deaths.