Minister calls for vigilance in construction industry

Labour Affairs minister Frank Fahey tonight called for greater vigilance in the country’s construction industry following the deaths of three building workers in on-site accidents this week – and looked forward to a hefty increase in fines for safety regulation infringements.

The latest fatality happened in Ringsend, Dublin, yesterday, when one man died and two others were seriously injured when a concrete stairwell collapsed.

Earlier, builders died in separate accidents in Dublin and at Dunleer, Co Louth.

The incidents have prompted criticism of current safety standards in the construction industry from trade unions.

And tonight Minister Frank Fahey said he was appealing to everyone involved in the construction sector for increased vigilance.

He also signalled his intention to improve Irish occupational health and safety standards all round, and added “I want to put in place a structure which offers protection to workers in the form of a strong legislative code, coupled with a dynamic Health and Safety Authority.”

The minister said one of the most significant areas to be addressed in a planned bill on safety and welfare at work would be the issue of penalties.

Mr Fahey said: “The introduction of a range of penalties, to a graduated range of offences, both for summary prosecutions and prosecutions on indictment, is being proposed.”

The new maximum penalties would range from €3,000 up to €300,000, depending on the offence, replacing current fine levels of just €1,900.