Sir, - With reference to media reports of the recent tragic deaths of construction workers and in particular, to the vilification of employers by union officials and other worker representative organisations, may I suggest that the main point is often missed? Surely we realise by now that workplace safety is everyone's responsibility and cannot just be left to the employer alone? Most legislation today is designed to encourage - and indeed requires - co-operation between management and the workforce in ensuring adequate safety standards are met.
I work as a safety adviser with responsibility for the preparation, implementation and enforcement of adequate health and safety standards on a number of construction sites controlled by different employers. While it can be argued that the employers likely to employ a qualified safety professional are already disposed to ensuring as safe a site as practicable, I find that my biggest problem is that a very significant minority of the workforce have little or no regard for their own safety.
This is evident from their refusal to wear head protection unless I literally stand over them, their refusal to use safety footwear and eye protection, their refusal to walk a few extra yards to use a ladder to mount or dismount a scaffold. Furthermore, the habit of some "blockies" and plasterers (in particular) in removing a scaffold braces and ties contrary to explicit instructions to the contrary in order to save a couple of minutes' time is lethal and almost impossible to detect short of "baby-sitting" them as they work. Remember, these are trained, experienced tradesmen.
The problem is compounded by the fact that, should the employer take any disciplinary action, the employee may well walk out and find work on a less safety-conscious site before the day's end, leaving the ethical employer short-staffed. Little assistance in this matter has been forthcoming from the Health and Safety Authority which has the duty to enforce health and safety legislation. It may surprise people to learn that there has been, to date, no case of an employee being prosecuted since the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act 1989. This is in spite of the fact that the Act sets out specific duties of the employee, and these duties are very often ignored.
If safety standards on construction sites are to improve, then employees as well as employers will have to change their attitudes and some assistance must be given to the employer who is trying to meet acceptable health and safety standards. - Yours, etc.,
Jack Butler, Rutland Street, Limerick.