The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) announced today it would make 14,300 inspections in the coming year in an effort to increase safety in the workplace. The Authority said it would target "all sectors with a particular focus on the high-risk sectors such as agriculture and construction".
It will also focus on a number problem areas including manual handling, workplace vehicles and working at heights. In addition the HSA plans an extensive campaign of promotional activities to increase safety in the workplace.
Launching the authority's Programme of Work for 2001 the Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt said: "2000 was an extremely successful year in raising the level of awareness of workplace health and safety issues but I know the Authority is keen to build on this increased awareness level and move key audiences from awareness to action".
The Authority's chairman, Mr Frank Cunneen, said: "In putting our 2001 programme together we took a hard look at what was causing the most injury and ill-health and have concentrated our resources on those key issues and sectors."
Last year 68 people were killed and thousands others seriously injured in workplaces throughout Ireland.
