Fórsa has welcomed a decision by the Department of Justice to undertake a review of the psychological risk exposure for frontline workers in the Department, carried out by the health and safety unit. Civil service workers in certain sections of the Department of Justice may encounter traumatic materials and circumstances in the normal course of their work.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini explained that there are some roles that require staff to be exposed to traumatic materials, and the union has long called for supports to be implemented for workers.

“We have members working in International Protection, in the Coroner’s Court, Forensic Science Ireland and in many other places within the Department where engagement with traumatic materials cannot be avoided. While we recognise this is unavoidable, we have long called for proper supports to be put in place for people who must encounter such material,” he said.

Last year Fórsa ran a limited survey of members who work in such areas to understand the nature of the material that they encounter, and to ask about the support mechanisms to which they have access.

“About two thirds of the respondents didn’t believe the existing supports were sufficient and approximately a third stated that they had to seek private support. We know and believe that the State can do better,” he said.

Fórsa brought the results of the union survey to the attention of the Department last year and has since offered to provide support to this new review should it be required.  

“We also suggested some possible tools that could be of use to the Department including the excellent new Psychosocial Risk Evaluation tool published by the Health and Safety Authority. We are glad to see that there is progress on this, and that the Department has established this review.”

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