Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Ireland (Ratification: 1995)

Application of the Convention in practice. With reference to its previous comment concerning the measures taken to address the increase in fatalities in agriculture, forestry and fishing, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government that these sectors continued to be among the sectors with the highest fatality rates. The Government reports that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) therefore carries out targeted inspection activities in agriculture, and that a great number of preventive and awareness-raising activities (including media campaigns, seminars, discussion groups, the involvement of rural promoters and interested stakeholders, lessons on OSH in agriculture and fishing in schools, etc.) have been undertaken to improve safety and health standards in these sectors. In this respect, the Committee also notes the Government’s reference to the online risk-assessment tools available to farmers, including those who are running small businesses. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government introduced the so-called “Farm Safety Scheme” under which farmers could apply (between October 2014 and January 2015) for financial assistance from the Government to help them improve safety standards, particularly through the purchase of safety equipment and tools. The Committee requests the Government to provide more information on the “Farm Safety Scheme”, including the number of applicants to whom financial assistance has been granted, and the safety measures taken at agricultural workplaces as a result. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of all the activities referred to by the Government (targeted inspection visits, preventive activities, self-assessment online tools and the Farm Safety Scheme) in terms of improved safety standards at agricultural workplaces and reduced numbers of occupational accidents and diseases. In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the numbers of occupational accidents and diseases in agriculture, forestry and fishing.