Irish Companies Urged To Invest In H&S

Entrepreneur Ben Dunne has highlighted the benefits of undertaking a safety audit at a breakfast briefing hosted by Olive Safety in Dublin.

Speaking to delegates in the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Mr Dunne drew attention to a recent Olive Safety report which stated that on average Irish companies pay 350% more by paying out costs associated with compensation claims, sick days, insurance costs and others than on the cost of becoming safety compliant.

The Health and Safety Authority’s most recent annual figures (2005) show that there were 24,000 non-fatal work related injuries which Olive Safety estimate costs an average of €2,750 through costs and lost revenue. Fatal injuries for 2007 has reached 43 to date.

Olive Safety Chief Executive Brendan Kavanagh stated: "While the HSA is driving the Government-led initiatives to improve health and safety across all business sectors, there has to be a real cultural change within companies from the top down.

"The aim is to ultimately reduce fatal and non-fatal accidents in the workplace and it seems that the only way to drive the message home that an unsafe workplace is unacceptable is through a combination of clearer and specifically defined legislation with larger fines and greater liabilities on the individual."

(CL)