5N1794: Only 20% Of Workplaces Were Covered By Any Kind Of Safety Legislation – Factories, Mines, Quarries, And The Construction Sector: Health & Safety At Work Assignment, OC, IRELAND

Introduction – Why do we Need Health and Safety?
Legislative requirement – Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
This law arose out of the findings of the Barrington Commission in 1983.

• Only 20% of workplaces were covered by any kind of safety legislation – factories,
  mines, quarries, and the construction sector.
• The Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act was the first piece of legislation to cover
  all places of work and all persons at work.

Under this legislation, there are duties required of employers and employees. Health and
safety policy is intended to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and
the welfare of you and those associated with the work activity.

Definition of Health and Safety:

• It is an area of legislation concerning employee wellbeing.
• Its objective is to maintain a safe working environment and safe work practices to ensure that employee health and wellbeing is not detrimentally affected by the work activities.