Frontline workers at risk got a further kicking from Government

I refer to your report (Irish Examiner, April 11) in relation to the injury rate of gardaí.

It comes as no surprise to any front line worker that the injury rate of gardaí is 10 times higher than the average worker. All front line staff in the public service are far more likely to be injured at work than the normal workers. There is no day in Ireland when some garda, prison officer, paramedic, nurse or firefighter is not injured in the course of their work, be it being kicked or punched, having some object thrown at them, or through some sprain or strain due to the intensive physical nature of their work.

The average worker has the expectation of going to work and coming home without the added risk of incurring physical injury or psychological trauma in the course of their work, frontline workers enjoy no such expectations. This is why so many front line workers remain so angry at Acting Minister Brendan Howlin and the previous Government for halving the sick leave entitlement of front line workers in line with all other public servants when the risk of injury and of being off on sick leave due to assaults at work would be on average 10 times higher than average.