Employers have a duty to ensure the health, safety & welfare of their employees. This includes providing:
A safe place of work and safe access to the place of work
A safe systems of work
A safe plant and equipment
Information, training and supervision
A preventative risk assessment
Employers must prepare a Safety Statement and are obliged to carry out consultation with and participation by their workers in health and safety matters, as well as train their staff.
Civil liability for employers may arise at common law but breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 is not actionable in itself. Where the regulation breached is derived from EC law, such as a directive, civil liability may arise. Employers should obtain legal advice from a labour and employment solicitor where any doubt arises.
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