The Health and Safety Authority has received over 200 complaints regarding breaches of Covid-19 guidelines, but has not carried out any on-site inspections in relation to those alleged breaches.
The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys confirmed the development in reply to a query from RISE TD Paul Murphy.
The Minister confirms that since the beginning of March this year, the HSA has carried over 415 inspections focused on "core occupational safety and health issues", adding that as a general rule, the majority of inspections have been unannounced.
She goes on to acknowledge that during March and April, the HSA has dealt with over 200 complaints of "non-adherence" to Covid-19 public health guidelines in the workplace, but that no on-site inspections had been warranted.
"Currently it has not been necessary for the HSA to carry out physical inspections in respect of the complaints received. In relation to the adherence to public health measures in the workplace, the HSA will examine incidences and take enforcement action where necessary," she states.
The Minister says the HSE's Workplace Contact Unit has been following up with the stakeholders identified in the complaints, and that in some cases the inspectorate of the HSA has contacted the relevant stakeholder seeking further information, and after that is assessed, an inspection may be initiated if required.
The Minister also alludes to the Return to Work Safely Protocol (launched last weekend following negotiations between employers' unions and the Government) which outlines requirements in workplaces to prevent Covid-19 infection.
She stresses the role of individual employers and workers in ensuring health and safety.
"While the HSA will advise, issue guidance, investigate when necessarily and ultimately enforcement non-adherence to public health measures which create a risk to the safety, health and welfare at work of employees, the key measure to securing the safety of workers in the workplace from Covid-19 infection will be the collaborative efforts of employers and employees," Ms Humphreys says.
In a statement, RISE TD Paul Murphy said the Minister's comments followed his questions in the Dáil almost two weeks ago, after he requested a site inspection of accommodation at fruit company Keelings to ensure HSE guidelines were being correctly followed.
Noting that not a single one of the 200 workplaces allegedly breaching Covid-19 guidelines had been inspected, he accused the HSA of being "asleep at the wheel, precisely when we need strong regulation of workplace heatlh and safety".
He described this as a "slap in the face" for workers or members of the public who had made complaints, and cited the situation in the meat industry, with multiple Covid-19 clusters and over 500 staff infected, as a warning of what could go wrong under a regime of self-regulation.
Mr Murphy called for strict enforcement of the Covid-19 guidelines, particularly as more companies push to re-open, with every complaint properly investigated.
"Any company found to be in breach of the guidelines should face fines, and if senior management are found to have made workers work in unsafe conditions should also face criminal prosecution," he said.
