Strategy Statement - Health and Safety Authority · The Authority was established in 1989 under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 1 and reports to the Minister for

2013-2015

StrategyStatement

Strategy statement sept 2013-15:Layout 1 17/01/2013 10:59 Page 1

Our vision: A country where workersafety, health and welfareand the safe managementof chemicals are central tosuccessful enterprise

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Who we are and what we do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Review of Strategy 2010-2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Strategy context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Vision, mission and values 2013 - 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Strategic outcomes and priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Process to ensure successful delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Annex 1 – Responses to public consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Published in January 2013 by the Health and Safety Authority, The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce St., Dublin 1.

Contents


Health and Safety Authority | Strategy Statement 2013-2015 Page 1

Foreword

Foreword by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Health and Safety Authority has an extremely important role- to ensure the safe return home of workers to their families oncethe working day is over.

Every workplace fatality and serious injury is a major tragedy fora family, but every workplace fatality and serious injury ispreventable. That is what the work of the HSA is about.

In doing so, it is important that regulation is well targeted at theoutcome to be delivered – reducing tragic fatalities and seriousinjuries in the workplace – and that unnecessary burdens onbusiness are avoided.

There is a perception that health and safety regulation imposes excessive and unnecessarycosts and ‘red-tape’ on businesses. We must continue to work hard to ensure that allregulation is well-targeted and risk-based, and I believe this Strategy will continue to bringabout that change in conjunction with the Authority’s work as part of the Government’scommitment to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden on business.

It is also important to point out that good health and safety practice makes good businesssense, aids competitiveness, improves relations with workers and is, in fact, central tosuccessful enterprise. Many businesses in Ireland, both indigenous and multinational, areplacing best practice in health and safety at the centre of their enterprise strategy.

The Authority is committed to providing all businesses, ranging from those in thepharmachemical industry with merchandise exports of over €50 billion per annum to thesmall enterprises which make up the backbone of our economy, with the necessarysupports to comply simply and cost effectively with good health and safety practice. Equally,the Authority is committed to supporting workers as they strive to meet their obligationsto making each workplace a safe and healthy working environment.

It is a given that we expect to return home safely from work. Making this a reality requiresthe promotion and adoption of this message - that good health and safety managementand the safe use of chemicals makes sense for everybody.

I support the goals the Health and Safety Authority has set for itself in its new Strategy.Implementing it at a time when resources are scarce will be a challenge and the Authoritywill need to continue to be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances but I haveevery confidence that it can rise to this challenge in the interests of every worker in thecountry.

RICHARD BRUTON TDMINISTER FOR JOBS, ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION


Page 2 Health and Safety Authority | Strategy Statement 2013-2015

Introduction

Michael Horgan Martin O’Halloran

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

We are pleased to present the Authority’sstrategic plan for 2013-2015. This is thethird strategy prepared by the Authorityunder the Safety, Health and Welfare atWork Act 2005.

The aim of the Authority is to ensure thatworkers in Ireland return home safely fromwork to their families and that everyone isprotected from the harmful effects ofchemicals. Our very broad remit, spanningover two hundred acts, regulations andconventions, means that the Authority hasa significant impact on many aspects of Irishlife and business.

Through our strategy and annualprogrammes of work, we aim to achieve acontinued downward trend in work relateddeaths, injuries and ill-health and an increasein the safe use of chemicals.

The Authority will work with employers,employees, representative bodies and otherorganisations to champion our keymessages and activities. We will operate ina way that supports economic and businesssuccess. We will continue our extensivework to represent Irish interests at EU leveland to contribute to the development ofpractical and appropriate legislation.

We are committed to operating as a highperforming organisation providing value formoney to the Irish taxpayer. During thecourse of this strategy the staffing andbudget of the Authority will be reduced inline with overall reductions in public sectorresources.

This strategy has been developed by thesenior management of the Authority underthe direction of the Board and in consultationwith the staff of the Authority. During publicconsultation, we received very positivefeedback on our approach and valuablerecommendations in relation to our prioritiesand objectives. These submissionsenhanced the strategy and are greatlyappreciated.

This document sets out our mandate,mission, vision, strategic outcomes andpriorities up to the end of 2015. Thisstrategy will set the overall direction for theAuthority’s activities during this time; welook forward to positive outcomes.


The Authority was established in 1989under the Safety, Health and Welfare atWork Act, 19891 and reports to the Ministerfor Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The Authority has a number of major roles.We are:

� The national statutory body withresponsibility for ensuring thatapproximately 1.8 million workers(employed and self-employed) and thoseaffected by work activity are protectedfrom work related injury and ill-health.We do this by enforcing occupational

health and safety law, promotingaccident prevention, and providinginformation and advice across all sectors,including retail, healthcare,manufacturing, fishing, entertainment,mining, construction, agriculture andfood services.

� The lead National Competent Authorityfor a number of chemicals regulationsincluding REACH (Registration,Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictionof Chemicals) Regulation and Seveso IIDirective. Our responsibility in this areais to protect human health (generalpublic, consumers and workers) and the environment, to enhancecompetitiveness and innovation andensure free movement of chemicals inthe EU market.

� A key agency involved in market

surveillance and ensuring the safety ofproducts used in workplaces andconsumer applications. We have a remitto protect 4.5 million citizens from unsafeproducts and articles and to enable theinternational movement and trade ofgoods manufactured in Ireland.


Who we are and what we do

1The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 has replaced the 1989 Act.


Occupationalhealth and safety

Safety, Health andWelfare at Work Act2005

Protecting workersfrom occupationalinjury and illness

1.8 million workersand those affectedby work activity

Market surveillance

Relevant EU productsafety directives

Protecting workersand the public fromunsafe articles andproducts

4.5 million citizens

Chemicals

Chemicals Acts 2008and 2010

Protecting humanhealth and theenvironment

Enhancingcompetitiveness andinnovation

Ensuring the freemovement ofchemicals on theinternal market

4.5 million citizens andthe environment



Legislation

Legislative

role

Population

protected

The Authority has a very broad mandate asset out in over two hundred Acts,Regulations and international conventions.Together with the roles outlined above, wealso have responsibilities in the areas oftransport of dangerous goods by road,control of major accident hazards, chemicalweapons, offshore installations and marketsurveillance related to personal protective

equipment, machinery, transportablepressure equipment and lifts, gasappliances, REACH, classification, labellingand packaging, detergents. The coreelements of our mandate are summarisedbelow.


Mandate of the Health and Safety Authority

� To regulate the safety, health and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

� To promote improvement in the safety, health and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

� To regulate and promote the safe manufacture, use, placing on the market, trade and transport of chemicals while enhancing innovation and competitiveness.

� To act as a surveillance authority in relation to relevant single European market legislation.




The Authority’s Strategy Statement for2010-20122 aimed to build on the progressalready made to ensure a better quality oflife for everyone in Irish workplaces. Itidentified scope for further improvements in

the areas of both occupational health andsafety and the safe and sustainablemanagement of chemicals. The strategypresented six goals:


Review of Strategy 2010-2012

1. To enable employers, employees and other duty holders to reduce risks to

safety, health and welfare.

2. To motivate and gain commitment to having safe and healthy workplaces

which support success in all enterprises.

3. To support the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in the

initiation and development of appropriate legislation and policies.

4. To hold accountable those who disregard their duties and responsibilities

for occupational safety, health and welfare.

5. To promote the safe and sustainable management of chemicals.

6. To ensure the Authority is effective in achieving its goals and delivering

value for money.

The ultimate outcomes we aim to achievethrough our strategies remain consistent –to reduce the levels of work-related deaths,injuries and ill-health and to increase the safeand sustainable use of chemicals. Data toassess the rates of injury and ill-health forthe period 2010 to 2012 will only be availablein 2014 but some of the available data ispresented here for interim assessment.

Figure 1 shows that the reported rate of fatalinjury has decreased overall since 2003. Thefatality rate has more than halved since theestablishment of the Authority in 1989. Thissignificant progress has resulted in thesaving of hundreds of lives. The highernumber of fatalities in 2010 and 2011 (duelargely to very high numbers of agriculture

fatalities) has caused an increase in therolling rate for 2010. We will continue ourefforts to reverse this trend throughout theterm of our new strategy.

The most recent available data from theCSO on injury and illness rates is presentedin Figures 2 and 3. The overall trend in bothinjury and illness rates appears to bedownward. The figures for 2009 arebelieved to be unreliable due tomethodological changes while the figuresfor 2010 would seem to be more in line withprevious rates, possibly with some increase.However, further analysis for the specificperiod of the strategy will be done whenCSO data for 2012 becomes available.

2Health and Safety Authority (2010), Statement of Strategy 2010-2012


Figure 1: Rate of worker fatalities 2003-2011 (Source - HSA database)

Figure 2: Rate of 4+ day injury 2003 – 2010 (Source - CSO)



3.5

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

02003 2004

Annual rate 3 year rolling rate

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

4+ day injury 3 year rolling rate


Other desired outcomes from our strategyfor 2010-2012 included the increase inawareness, knowledge and levels ofengagement in work-related health andsafety and the safe use of chemicals. Overthe course of the strategy we have

completed a wide range of successfulprojects and activities that have brought uscloser to achieving our goals. Further detailis available in our annual reports for 2010and 2011 but examples of our achievementsinclude:


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

4+ day injury 3 year rolling rate

� The cost of compliance for business has been reduced through the development ofsimple and user-friendly tools to assist businesses, particularly small businesses, inmeeting their legal requirements. Over 2000 people attended the biggest exhibitionevent ever held by the Authority aimed at assisting businesses in achieving compliancesimply and cost effectively.

� We achieved efficiencies in enforcement and policy making through collaboration witha wide range of other state bodies.

� Awareness of the dangers in agriculture increased following high impact advertisingcampaigns and engagement with farm representative organisations.

� There is increased workplace safety and health awareness among employers andemployees. Results from a survey by the European Agency of Occupational Safety andHealth show that Irish workers have one of the highest levels of safety awareness in the EU.


Figure 3: Rate of 4+ day illness 2003-2010 (Source - CSO)


� Many workplace and chemical accidents were prevented by carrying out over 36,000inspections. We have also become involved in new areas such as waste management,renewable energy and unfinished housing estates.

� We have supported the key chemical industries e.g. pharma-chem, technology andmedical devices through the provision of information and advice.

� A significant contribution was made at EU level through participation in a range ofcommittees and working groups which determine EU chemicals and health and safetylegislation and policies.

� We have supported the Minister in the development and review of legislation andpolicies. In particular, we have worked to reduce the complexity of the regulation throughrepeal of outdated legislation and consolidation of current legislation.

� We have delivered significant reform in how we operate.



We learned valuable lessons during thecourse of the strategy 2010-2012 which wehave considered during the development ofour new strategy and which will inform itsimplementation.

Our mandate is important and we need toensure that we fulfil our core responsibilitiesdespite reducing resources. A clearlyunderstood mandate will guide ourdecisions about which outcomes should beprioritised during the next three years.

The Authority has highly committed staff

that have adopted new and smarter ways todeliver our services in a rapidly changingenvironment. We will operate as a highperforming agency which deliverseffectively on its remit while giving value tothe Irish taxpayer.

It is important that we extend the ways inwhich we measure our performance. Weneed to evaluate everything we do so thatwe can make informed decisions aboutfuture policies and projects and so that wecan demonstrate the positive impact of ouractivities for individuals and society. Ourwork to improve workplace health andsafety and the safe use of chemicals isabout culture change and will take time.This three year strategy is part of our longerterm mission. Our performance measuresneed to reflect this.

Our role in implementing workplace healthand safety and chemicals legislation has the potential to support Ireland’scompetitiveness and contribute to national

recovery.


This strategy has been developed by thesenior management of the Authority underthe direction of the Board (a tripartite groupincluding nominees from employer,employee and other organisations) and inclose consultation with the staff of theAuthority.

Set out in this section are the consistentthemes that emerged from our analysis ofthe external environment and whichinformed the development of this strategy.

Workplace health and safety in Ireland

There are still many people suffering work-related injuries and ill health in Ireland eachyear, despite overall reductions in rates sincethe establishment of the Authority. The rateof worker fatality has fallen from over 3fatalities per 100,000 workers in the early2000s to just over 2 fatalities per 100,000workers in recent years.

Non-fatal injuries may also have seriousconsequences for many workers - the mostrecent data from the Central StatisticsOffice3 estimates that in 2010 there werealmost 20,000 work-related injuries and over15,000 work-related illnesses which were ofa severity to cause more than three daysabsence from work.

There have been changes in accident trendssince our previous strategy. With thedecline in construction activity theagriculture sector has now emerged ashaving an extremely high fatality ratecompared to other sectors. Of the 54 work-

related deaths reported to the Authority in2011, 22 of these were farming accidents.The types of accidents are also changing,with data suggesting that accidentsinvolving workplace vehicles and transportare increasing. Equally, some accidenttriggers remain unchanged – both manualhandling and slip, trip and fall hazardscontinue to account for over half of all non-fatal injuries reported to the Authority.

While the number of work-related deathsand injuries is too high, comparison withrates in other member states shows thatIreland consistently has one of the lowestnon-fatal injury rates in the EU.

While there have been clear improvementsin workplace health and safety in Ireland, theultimate aim of this strategy is to continueto further reduce the rates of workplacedeath, injury and illness.

The economy

Ireland’s current economic position andoutlook sets the context within which theAuthority will operate during this strategy.The Authority will contribute to economicgrowth in three ways – (i) by reducing costsassociated with workplace accidents and illhealth, (ii) by providing a well-functioning,robust and proportionate regulatoryframework and (iii) by ensuring that theAuthority provides value for money to theState.


Strategy context

3 Health and Safety Authority (2012), Summary of Workplace Injury, Illness and Fatality Statistics 2010-2011


Poor health and safety costs individuals,enterprises and the State a great deal.According to CSO data, over 1 million workdays were lost due to work related injury andillness in 2010 and the total cost of poorhealth and safety in Ireland is estimated tobe approximately 2.5% of GNP4 or €3.2billion based on the GNP for 2010. Bysupporting the reduction of these coststhrough the proper management of safety,health and chemicals, the Authority canmake a positive contribution to enterprisesuccess.

The strategy published by the Departmentof Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (2012)5

states that Ireland’s regulatory environmentis one of the more progressive andsupportive for enterprise. Recent foreigninvestment and trade decisions suggest thata well-functioning, robust and proportionateapproach to regulation is a fundamental partof Ireland’s competitive offering. The workthe Authority does to ensure safe andhealthy workplaces and the proper andsustainable use of chemicals helps to createthis positive regulatory environment. Forthis strategy we will direct our effortstoward reducing the costs andadministrative demands associated withcompliance, while always ensuring thatpeople are protected from death, injury andillness.

Changing nature of the workforce and

workplaces

While there has been an overall reduction inthe number of people at work, industriesincluding pharmaceuticals, technology andmedical devices have now assumedincreased economic importance. In 2010,for example, the Irish pharmaceutical andchemical sector exported products to thevalue of €50.8 billion. As the NationalCompetent Authority with responsibility forimplementing chemicals legislation theAuthority has an important role in terms ofregulating and supporting this sector.

We have also observed an increasedcasualisation of the workforce since theeconomic downturn. Our previous strategydirected significant effort to engaging withsmaller employers and the self-employedand these efforts will continue for thisstrategy period.

The Authority continuously seeks to identifynew technologies, industries and ways ofworking so that we can quickly andeffectively address emerging risks in Irishworkplaces.


Strategy context

4 Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (2006), commissioned Report on economic impact of Safety, Health and Welfare at Work legislation

5 Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (2012), Statement of Strategy 2011-2014


Public sector reform

The focus on reducing costs in the publicsector and improving the way in whichservices are delivered will continue duringthis strategy. By the end of 2014 thestaffing of the Authority will have decreasedby 20% from 2010 and spending will alsohave been significantly reduced. TheAuthority currently has the lowest ratio ofinspectors to persons in employment in theEU6. During this strategy the Authority willprioritise service delivery so that ouractivities achieve the greatest benefit for theresources available to us.

Perceptions of workplace health and

safety

Some misconceptions exist in relation toworkplace health and safety and the role ofthe Authority. “Health and safety” issometimes used as an excuse for not doingsomething or is the reason given forunpopular decisions. In many cases the realreasons have little to do with workplacehealth and safety and this can lead to atrivialisation of our work. It is important forthe Authority and for our customers thatthere is a clear understanding of our role andof the benefits for workers, employers andthe public of good workplace health andsafety management. We intend to addressthis issue through the combined approachof challenging inaccurate or trivialisedaccounts while promoting balanced andsensible regulation.

Public consultation

The public consultation on our draft strategydrew a very positive and supportiveresponse from a wide range of organisations– see Appendix 1. There were a number ofthemes which emerged from our analysis ofthese submissions:

� There was strong appreciation of ourcollaborative approach and our emphasison working with other agencies andorganisations to achieve our strategicpriorities. Many respondents expressedtheir satisfaction with ongoingcollaborations, while others wished toinitiate or extend their workingrelationship with us.

� Respondents stressed the importance ofa whole of Government approach toproviding public services. For example,the benefits of data sharing and jointinitiatives were highlighted.

� In terms of particular topics to address,several respondents requested that wecontinue or extend our activities in thearea of workplace transport safety. Thehigh fatality rate in the agriculture sectorwas also noted.


Strategy context

6 EU Senior Labour Inspectorate Committee (SLIC) 2009 Annual Report


Vision

A country where worker safety, health and welfare and the safemanagement of chemicals are central to successful enterprise

Good safety management should be the normal way of doing business in Ireland becauseit makes sense for employers, for people at work and for consumers. Everybody has alegitimate right and a legal entitlement to return home safely from their work.

Mission

To protect people from death, injury and ill-health arising from all workactivities and chemicals

The Authority works with key duty holders to ensure that they meet their legal obligationsin relation to workplace health and safety and chemicals. We motivate and inform throughproviding a combination of promotion, information, inspection and enforcement.

Values

Commitment to customers

Respect

Integrity

Accountability

Quality and continuous improvement

Speed, agility and innovation

The Authority will continue to operate in line with the values developed during thepreparation of our previous strategy.


Vision, mission and values 2013 - 2015


The ultimate aim of the Authority is toprevent injuries and ill-health caused by workactivities and chemicals. Therefore, theoverall and most important outcome of thisstrategy is a reduction in the rate of deaths,injury and ill-health. We have also identifieda number of other high-level outcomeswhich will support our overall aim. Theseare a combination of final and intermediateoutcomes aimed at achieving behaviouralchange. Specific quantitative and qualitativemetrics will be developed to enable the

tracking of progress against the strategicpriorities and expected outcomes on aquarterly or annual basis. Metrics willinclude a mix of national statistics,information reported to the Authority,inspection data and customer surveys.

The expected outcomes from our strategyare:


Strategic outcomes and priorities

� A reduction in the rates of work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health. We willfocus our resources on achieving reductions in high risk activities and sectors,and in particular in the agriculture sector.

� Increased commitment by employers to active management of safety, healthand welfare.

� Improved employee consultation and workplace representation on safety andhealth.

� That small businesses have access to tools and information that will enable themto improve their management of safety, health and welfare.

� An improved awareness and understanding by workers of their role in protectingthemselves, their colleagues and their business.

� Targeted and early intervention in relation to key EU proposals that affect Irishinterests and the timely development of proposals for the transposition of EUregulation.

� To make the best use of State resources and achieve maximum impact bytargeting our activities and working with other agencies.

� An improvement in the understanding and image of sensible workplace healthand safety.


Taking account of these outcomes, theresults of our environmental analysis and theviews expressed during internal and publicconsultation, we have developed five

strategic priorities and associated objectivesthat will direct our activity for the next threeyears.

The five strategic priorities are:



1. Enable enterprises to comply with their legal obligations in a practical and reasonable manner.

2. Achieve a high standard of compliance with safety, health and welfare and chemical laws.

3. Support the Minister in the development of a well-functioning, robust and proportionate regulatory framework.

4. Engage and work with people and organisations nationally and internationally to achieve our vision.

5. Be a high performing organisation delivering value to the Irish taxpayer.

Strategic Priority 1

Enable enterprises to comply with their legal obligations in a practical and

reasonable manner.

Objectives

1. Motivate and gain the commitment of employers and workers to safe and healthy workplaces and the safe use of chemicals.

2. Provide and promote tools to simplify compliance.

3. Provide particular supports to assist small businesses in applying good health and safety practice.



Achieve a high standard of compliance with safety, health and welfare and

chemical laws.

Objectives

1. Focus inspections on areas of known highest risk, concern and greatest impact.

2. Provide on-site support and advice to duty holders.

3. Enforce proportionately, relative to the risk to people.

4. Investigate and hold to account employers, employees and other duty holders who have failed in their duty of care.


Support the Minister in the development of a well-functioning, robust and

proportionate regulatory framework.

Objectives

1. Make proposals and provide technical support on the transposition of EU legislation and the drafting of national provisions.

2. Identify opportunities for rationalising and simplifying the legislative framework.

3. Contribute to the national agenda on reduction of regulatory and administrative burden.

4. Represent the national interest at EU level for workplace safety and health and chemicals.







Engage and work with people and organisations nationally and internationally

to achieve our vision.

Objectives

1. Identify, develop and maintain relationships with key influencers and enlist their support.

2. Promote sensible and practical awareness and understanding of work related health and safety and safe chemicals management.

3. Create awareness and understanding of risk management amongst students.


Be a high performing organisation delivering value to the Irish taxpayer.

Objectives

1. Be a role model organisation in delivering value for money.

2. Promote a culture that enhances staff empowerment, learning and development.

3. Gather, use and share information that enables us to achieve and demonstratethe greatest impact.

4. Meet our statutory obligations.


Programmes of work

The Authority will deliver this strategythrough the development andimplementation of annual programmes ofwork which will be submitted to the Ministerfor approval. These programmes of workwill provide details of the specific topics,projects and collaborations we have plannedto support the achievement of our strategicpriorities.

Resource planning

To successfully implement our strategy, wewill require the necessary allocation ofresources and we must take responsibilityfor prioritising those areas where there isthe greatest risk and the greatest potentialfor improvement. The Authority’s primarysource of income is the annual grantprovided by the Department of Jobs,Enterprise and Innovation. We are cognisantof the very challenging economicenvironment and will continue to focus ondelivering value for money to the Irishtaxpayer. The breadth of the Authority’smandate makes it critically important thatwe manage staff reductions to ensure weretain the key competencies that areessential to achieving our strategy.

Monitoring progress

Progress on the annual programmes of workthat implement the strategy will bemonitored using a range of qualitative andquantitative measures. The Board of theAuthority and the Department of Jobs,

Enterprise and Innovation will receivequarterly and annual reports. The Board willperiodically review progress in implementingthe Authority’s strategy. The Authority willagree a service level agreement (SLA) whichwill form the basis of periodic reports onprogress to the Minister.

Taking account of the long term nature ofthe cultural and attitudinal changes we hopeto achieve, the desired outcomes will beassessed over a longer timeline than thethree year strategy period. We will alsowork to supplement our regular updates onfatality, injury and illness rates with otherperformance measures that more fullycapture the range and extent of our activitiesand impact.

External collaboration

The Authority works with a wide range ofnational, European and international bodies.Our partnerships support our activities inrelation to enforcement, legislation, policy-making and communications.

At the national level the Authority has inplace more than twenty Memoranda ofUnderstanding or Protocols with other statebodies. We also lead or participate in anumber of advisory groups (agriculture,construction, healthcare, workplacetransport, technical and scientific, regional)that bring together representatives fromindustry, unions, other state agencies, localauthorities and third level institutions. Duringthis strategy we recognise that we will needto prioritise those partnerships which bestsupport the delivery of our strategy.


Process to ensure successful delivery


A significant proportion of our work isconducted at European level. Staff from theAuthority represent Ireland on strategiccommittees or working groups in Europe. Inthe next strategy period it will be vital thatwe continue to influence legislation andpolicy to ensure good decision-making andto protect national interests.

Internal structure

The Authority’s operational policy isdetermined by a Board of twelve members:a chairperson and eleven membersappointed by the Minister. The Ministerappoints a tripartite Board, representative ofthe interests associated with workplacehealth and safety including employees,

employers and others. The appointmentsare for a term of three years.

The Board has four sub-committees(Legislation and Guidance; Finance; Audit;Strategic Review) and six advisorycommittees (construction, farm safety,technical and scientific and three regionaladvisory committees).

The Chief Executive Officer manages theday-to-day implementation of strategy in linewith the Authority’s statutory responsibilitiesand policies set out by the Board. Theorganisation is structured in four sections ledby Assistant Chief Executives as below. Thisstructure is currently under review.


Process to ensure successful delivery

CEO

Martin O’Halloran

Assistant ChiefExecutive

Compliance & Advice

Brian Higgisson


Chemical BusinessServices

Sharon McGuinness


Prevention Services

Mary Dorgan


Corporate Services

Robert Roe


The Authority would like to express its thanks to all who responded to the consultation onour draft strategy:

� An Bord Altranais

� Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

� Commission for Energy Regulation

� Department of Health

� Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

� Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

� An Garda Síochána

� Electricity Supply Board

� Health Service Executive

� Injuries Board.ie

� Irish Blood Transfusion Service

� Irish Medicines Board

� Irish Prison Service

� National Disability Authority

� Road Safety Authority

� Teagasc


Annex 1 – Responses to public consultation



ISBN No: 978-1-84496-167-2 HSA 0384

A country where worker safety, health

and welfare and the safe management

of chemicals are central to successful

enterprise


Documents

Strategy Statement - Health and Safety Authority · The Authority was established in 1989 under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 1 and reports to the Minister for