The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has submitted its annual report for 2017 to Pat Breen TD, Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection. The following facts and figures will serve as a warning to employers of the possible negative outcomes of ignoring health and safety obligations.
Work-related fatalities
Sadly, the report contains details of 47 work-related fatalities that occurred in 2017. This represents an increase of one from the 46 reported the previous year.
Highest fatality rate in agriculture
For the eighth consecutive year, the agriculture sector recorded the greatest number (24) of work-related fatalities. In an effort to tackle the persistently high fatality rate in agriculture, the HSA is working with the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee on a three-year action plan and continuing to collaborate with relevant organisations by participating in discussion groups and farm walks.
Inspections and investigations
The HSA carried out almost 10,000 inspections and investigations during the course of 2017. There were almost 2,000 carried out in the agriculture sector (including forestry and fishing), over 4,400 in the construction sector and over 1,300 inspections and audits were conducted under chemical legislation.
Improvement and prohibition notices
From these inspections and investigations, 512 improvement notices and 547 prohibition notices were issued to rectify serious breaches of health and safety law.
Fines imposed
21 prosecutions were successfully concluded resulting in total fines imposed of €2,695,500 compared with €614,000 in 2016.
Chemical checks
The authority also completed 400 market surveillance checks on chemical products on the Irish market, 200 of which were on detergents and 22 of which were on budget jewellery.
HSA programmes
The HSA placed extra emphasis on education programmes last year. Almost 25,000 post-primary students participated in the Choose Safety programme, while 17,750 courses were taken on their eLearning portal.
The HSA also led 6 Keep Safe events in primary schools nationwide. Programmes focusing on particular sectors including occupational hygiene, ADR transport and work-related vehicle safety were also completed in 2017.
Communications
The HSA is using a communications strategy to ‘foster a culture of prevention’. Various campaigns including national and regional safety campaigns targeting the construction and agriculture sectors were run across TV, radio, outdoor and digital formats.
Accreditation
The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) delivered an ongoing programme of accreditation to industry. The HSA report includes details of an increase in applications for INAB accreditation in sectors that will be affected by the UK’s exit from the EU.
There were 294 site assessment visits carried out with 302 decisions taken to uphold and extend accreditation. There were also 21 new applications for accreditation granted by the INAB Board.
Employers’ takeaway
Employers should note the high number of workplace HSA inspections, the high volume of improvement and prohibition notices issued and the costly fines levied on employers on foot of health and safety prosecutions. The details of the report demonstrate how employers must continue to ensure that robust health and safety systems are maintained in the workplace.
To see the HSA’s Annual Report 2017 in full please click here.
To learn how to safeguard your business against health and safety claims, call Peninsula’s 24-hour advice line on 0818 923 923 to speak with an expert
