Workplace safety - Precautions will prevent accidents

Society needs to be aware of certain dangers that have arisen as a result of the Celtic Tiger economy and an enhanced standard of living.

There is more work available and people are working longer, often at unsociable hours that affect their sleep patterns.

People are also tending to live further from their place of employment and this necessitates more time commuting to and from work. All of these combine to pose certain hazards that employers and employees should recognise. This was the main message delivered at the conference of the National Irish Safety Organisation in Killarney over the weekend.

The internal body clock determines that people are more alert at certain times of the day. Various studies have shown that alertness levels fall during the night.

Consequently, bad shift patterns and lack of rest lead to accidents.

We need to be more safety conscious. Precautions should be taken, such as ensuring that there is at least 12 hours between shifts, and that people should not work more than a maximum of four night shifts in a row. There should also be an overtime ban on anyone engaged in a 12-hour shift.

Such safety precautions are in everybody's interests, because accidents can result in death or the maiming of workers.

In addition, they impede productivity and inflate the cost of production, both of which can have a vital impact on a modern economy.