Fianna Fáil: Workers’ lives ‘at risk’ due to fall in safety inspections

Workers’ lives are being put at risk by a 32% reduction in health and safety inspections of workplaces, Fianna Fáil has warned.

Figures released by Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor show that in spite of the upturn in employment, between 2011 and 2016, the number of inspections fell from 15,340 to 10,460. Up to February 14 there had only been 1,136.

Furthermore, the figures, released through a parliamentary question asked by Fianna Fáil Jobs spokesman Niall Collins, show that the funding for the Health and Safety Authority for safety initiatives fell by almost €500,000 from €1.776m in 2015 to €1.297m in 2016.