Penalties for those breaching health and safety laws are set to increase “dramatically”, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

While acknowledging the importance of establishing a culture of risk prevention through education, the OHSA said it was working towards raising maximum fines and imprisonment terms.

The idea was to further deter duty holders – clients, contractors, project supervisors and workers – from breaching their legal obligations.

Where a breach is noted legal action is invariably taken

The OHSA pointed to the number of enforcement actions taken in cases where breaches had been noted. This demonstrated the hazardous working environment within the construction industry, mainly due to the continuous changing work situations and exposure to risks of falls from height.

Healthier and safer workplaces could only be achieved if all duty holders recognised it was in their best interest to adhere to the obligations imposed on them by occupational health and safety legislation, it said.

The watchdog emphasised that, where a breach was noted, legal action was invariably taken against clients.

It was therefore in clients’ best interest to appoint reputable project supervisors and contractors with the necessary capabilities and technical knowledge to safely perform the task entrusted to them.

Referring to the publication of photos of unsafe construction work practices, the OHSA urged the media and individuals to inform it immediately wherever unsafe conditions were noted, pointing out that a confidentiality reporting procedure was available.

Where photos were published hours or days after the occurrence, the people involved were still exposed to serious and imminent danger, particularly where falls from height were concerned, it added.