Enforce ventilation Standards - PBP Launch Ventilation Bill
All workplaces will be required to have proper ventilation under a new bill launched by People Before Profit today which finally defines standards for workplace air quality in law.
While today the Restaurant Association are again lobbying the government for further reopening of indoor bars and restaurants, there is still no legally enforceable standards of workplace ventilation.
However the PBP ‘Workplace Ventilation Bill (Covid-19) 2021’ bill addresses that, following a recent Belgian law on ventilation by using the amount of CO2 in the air as a proxy for air quality.
Under the PBP bill employers will be required to ensure there are less than 900 parts per million of CO2 in the air.
The bill also empowers employees to request an investigation of workplace air quality by the Health and Safety Authority.
Up until now while there were various guidelines and recommendations for ventilation, these were not legally enforceable.
Last month Tanaiste Vradkar admitted when questioned by PBP TD Paul Murphy that he was not sure about the ‘practical enforceability’ of ventilation guidelines.
A Statuatory Investment does require employers to ensure “sufficient fresh air is provided in enclosed places of work” however it has no enforceable definition.
Speaking at the launch of the bill, PBP Employment Rights spokesperson Paul Murphy TD said:
“It is disgraceful that, 18 months into a major airborne pandemic, the government have still not introduced enforceable ventilation standards.
We know that proper ventilation dramatically reduces the likelihood of Covid outbreaks in workplaces.
CO2 monitoring is a very good way of measuring air quality, and CO2 monitors are very affordable - every classroom and every workplace should have monitors.
Our bill follows the example of Belgium in establishing minimum standards for air quality.
Workers are empowered to request an inspection by the Health and Safety Authority.
If air quality is found to be lacking, the HSA will issue rapid enforcement orders to improve ventilation, and in extreme cases can close a workplace until proper ventilation or air filtration is put in place.
No worker should be forced to work in an unsafe environment.
As well as implementing enforceable air quality standards, PBP is also pushing for at least a tripling of the budget of the Health and Safety Authority in the upcoming budget.
Covid has highlighted the problems with Ireland’s light-touch regulation of workplace health and safety.
We are also encouraging all workers to elect workplace health and safety committees, to manage safe reopenings and for trade unions to be given the right to inspect workplaces and meet with workers as well.
Ultimately, it is strong workplace organisation that will be necessary to really enforce these standards, and ensure bosses do not cut corners with health and safety in the drive to reopen.”
