CMNT_TITLE

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) - Ireland (RATIFICATION: 1998)

Other comments on C176

Direct Request

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Article 3 of the Convention. Policy on safety and health in mines. With reference to its previous request concerning further developments with regard to the national policy on safety and health in mines in the context of periodical reviews undertaken thereof, the Committee notes that pursuant to section 43 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) develops a strategy statement specifying its key objectives, outputs and related strategies every three years. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the current national policy on occupational safety and health is contained in the Strategy Statement 2016–18, which is implemented by the HSA through its annual Programme of Work. The Government indicates that in 2016, the HSA’s annual Programme of Work would have a particular focus on quarries. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the draft consolidated safety, health and welfare at work (mines) regulations, which were drawn upon by the HSA in consultation with workers’ and employers’ representatives, are currently under review by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any further developments regarding its national policy on safety and health in mines and, in particular, on the progress as regards the adoption of the draft safety, health and welfare at work (mines) regulations.

Article 4(2). Codes of practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous request that the code of practice for operators of quarry delivery vehicles (employing three or less employees) was adopted in 2012 and that it is being extensively used within the sector. The Committee takes note of this information.

Article 13(2)(c) and (3). Right of safety and health representatives to have recourse to independent experts. Procedure. The Committee previously noted the indication of the Government that there was no restriction or exclusion to the possibility for safety and health representatives to have recourse to independent experts, while there was no specific legislative provision on this subject. The Committee recalls that under Article 13(3) the procedure for the exercise of this right shall be specified by national law and regulations, and through consultation between employers and workers and their representatives. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to establish such a procedure.