Fórsa seeks more resources for HSA
by Niall Shanahan
 
Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said “While we anticipate greater capacity is needed, we have asked management to determine the medium-to-long term requirements now, rather than falling behind and being forced to make the case retrospectively."
Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said “While we anticipate greater capacity is needed, we have asked management to determine the medium-to-long term requirements now, rather than falling behind and being forced to make the case retrospectively."

Fórsa has asked the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to develop a business case to determine the number of additional directly-employed inspectors it will need to ensure compliance with the ‘return to work’ safely measures agreed between unions, employers and the Government.

 

The Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee was told on Tuesday (9th June) that more than 500 inspectors have been assigned to the HSA to ensure compliance with the agreed protocol. But Fórsa says the HSA should be employing more of its own inspectors in light of the scale of the task ahead.

 

A survey of health and safety professionals, published last week by Industrial Relations News (IRN), found that 57% lack confidence in the Health and Safety Authority’s ability to oversee the protocol. IRN editor Brian Sheehan noted: “The high level of pessimism can be attributed to concern around the lack of adequate resources, both financial and human, available to the Authority.”

 

Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said the union shares these concerns: “Our expectation is that Covid-19-related work will use up considerable capacity beyond the phased easing of the restrictions that have been in place.

 

“While we anticipate greater capacity is needed, we have asked management to determine the medium-to-long term requirements now, rather than falling behind and being forced to make the case retrospectively.

 

“This has been further necessitated by the increased pace at which we’re now moving through the phases of easing the Covid-19 restrictions and getting people back to work,” she said.

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace HERE

 

 

 

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