| Employers' duties in respect of safety in the | | | | • Employees should be trained in relation |
| workplace are quite onerous and are laid down by | | | | to health and safety, especially when it comes to |
| a piece of legislation from 2005 called the Health | | | | the use and operation of machinery |
| & Welfare At Work Act. | | | | • Employees too have obligations in the |
| The main thrust of the act is that it imposes a | | | | workplace including not being intoxicated at work |
| general duty of care on employers for the safety | | | | and taking reasonable precautions for their own |
| of their employees. It is difficult in an article such | | | | safety and reporting any defects in equipment or |
| as this to cover this piece of legislation | | | | machinery |
| extensively but some of the main points include | | | | • The employer must have a safety |
| • The employer has a duty to put in | | | | statement in place which will include a contingency |
| place safe systems of work and this includes | | | | plan in the event of an emergency. |
| preventing improper behavior in the workplace by | | | | • Employees may elect a safety |
| employees | | | | representative who liaises with the employer |
| • All equipment must be maintained in a | | | | • The employer can not victimize or in |
| safe fashion and no employee should be put to | | | | any way penalize an employee who makes a |
| expense to ensure a safe workplace | | | | complaint in relation to the employer's failure to |
| • All workplace notices must recognize | | | | implement the health and safety regime properly. |
| the different backgrounds from which it's | | | | There are many other obligations placed on the |
| employees come and if necessary notices should | | | | employer in respect of health and safety in the |
| be in languages that are easily understandable to | | | | workplace in Ireland. |
| all employees | | | | |