To date this year 14 people have been killed and thousands more injured across the State in accidents on construction sites . On average half of all construction-related accidents result from falls from heights.
In a bid to reduce the number of accidents the Health and Safety Authority’s ‘Head for Heights’ campaign was launched today. In addition the ‘Construction Saftey Action Week’ will begin on Monday.
Speaking at the at the Building Exhibition in the RDS the Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, announced the introduction of revised safety regulations, to come into effect from January 1st 2002, to further strengthen the 1995 regulations.
The new regulations, developed by the Construction Safety Partnership, will introduce mandatory safety training and safety representation on a phased basis.
The first phase, from January 1st 2002, requires all new construction workers to have received a FÁS Safe Pass safety awareness training and be in possession of a FÁS safe pass card before they can work on site. By May 1st the requirements will apply to workers on all new sites and by June 1st 2003 they will have extended to all remaining workers in the sector.
From January 1st all scaffolders must be in possession of a FÁS construction skills certification scheme card. This requirement will then be extended to crane drivers, banksmen, advanced scaffolders and operators of certain mechanical plant from July 1st next year.
"It is important to bear in mind that adherence to safe working standards on construction sites is not voluntary or at the discretion of individual employers or employees," Mr Kitt said.
The minister also welcomed the new Director General of the Health and Safety Authority, Mr Tom Beegan.
