Company Directors Urged To Put Safety First
6th November
Company directors and senior managers could face prosecution for workplace health and safety offences, the Health and Safety Authority has warned. That was the message at the launch today (6 November) of a new Health and Safety Authority publication ‘Guidance for Directors and Senior Managers on their Responsibilities for Workplace Safety and Health’ at which directors and senior managers were strongly urged to prioritise safety and health management.
“The 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act marked a new departure for health and safety in the workplace. An important element of that legislation is the new responsibilities it imposes on company directors and senior managers who can now be held personally responsible for organisational breaches of health and safety law. Anyone convicted of a serious breach of the legislation could face a fine of up to €3m or two years imprisonment. These are significant changes”, stated Mr. Martin O’Halloran, CEO of the Health and Safety Authority.
According to Mr. O’Halloran, “health and safety in the workplace is a critical issue. So far this year 59 people have lost their lives in workplace accidents, with almost 6,000 non-fatal injuries reported to the Health and Safety Authority to date. Improving health and safety practices needs the input of senior management. Health and safety policy has to be embedded at the most senior levels of an organisation.”
A nationwide advertising campaign incorporating press, radio and online elements will promote this guidance document and a significant media spend has been allocated to ensure the message is widely received. Dr. Peter Claffey, Health and Safety Authority Programme Manager added “these regulations apply to directors and senior managers of all organisations regardless of type or size. If you’re a director or senior executive with any type of organisation you need to be aware of your responsibilities – that’s the key message we’re promoting.”
“The guidance is written in a reader friendly but informative manner that is intended to assist directors and senior managers in fulfilling their legal obligations. The document also highlights the strong business case for investing time and resources in health and safety management. Poor health and safety practices undermine the long term profitability of a business. Increased insurance costs, reduced productivity due to accidents, low staff morale and high staff turnover are just some of the practical business consequences of poor health and safety management. Smart businesses know that it pays to invest in health and safety”, according to Dr. Claffey.
He added, “the Authority strives to work in partnership with business to improve workplace health and safety. However, where we find serious breaches of the law we will have no hesitation in taking the appropriate action. Senior managers and directors have clear legal responsibilities and the consequences of ignoring these are significant. I urge those at senior management level to give health and safety the priority it deserves.”