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The Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD has today (Monday 30th November) launched a new “Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Dock Work”.
The new code of practice, published by the Health and Safety Authority, provides clear advice on how to reduce the dangers that are common in ports and docks.
Since 2002, there have been 16 people killed due to work activity at Irish docks and several serious accidents that resulted in life changing injuries.
Some of the key risks to port workers are: falls from height, falling materials, movement of vehicles, slips trips and falls and loss of control of machinery.
Speaking about the importance of safety standards in the industry Minister Nash said: “Port workers are involved in fast paced work, conducted at any time of the day or year and often in bad weather. This code has been produced after consultation with representatives from the ports and docks sector and I believe that the industry will find it very useful.
“The efficiency, management and safety of our ports and docks are critical to Ireland’s overall economic performance and prosperity. But we also must do everything we can to ensure that port and dock workers return safely to their families at the end of every working day.”
Martin O’Halloran, CEO of the HSA emphasised the high risk nature of the industry: “Dock work involves the operation of vehicles and machinery, ferries coming and going as well as open water nearby. With the increased size of ships and the use of higher capacity handling equipment, good safety and health is vital at any port or dock.”
The Code applies to commercial ports and dock premises, harbours and canals where goods and passengers are transported, handled or held for the purpose of loading or unloading ships.
Copies of the new “Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Dock Work” are available at www.hsa.ie.
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For further information contact Mark Ryan, HSA Press Officer, 01 6147068 / 0868036141

Note to Editor
The Statistics
Since 2002, there were 16 fatalities within Irish ports and docks. The main causes of the fatal accidents were:
Falls from Height
Being hit, run over or crushed by a vehicle
Being hit, struck or crushed by an object

Of the 16 fatalities, 11 were vessel related whilst five occurred within the terminal area. This is in addition to several serious accidents resulting in life changing injuries for the injured parties. The most common causes of non-fatal injuries are slips, trips and falls, loss of control of a machine, people being hit by objects and manual handling.
The Code of Practice comes into force at the same time as the revocation of the Docks (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1960 (S.I. No. 279 of 1960) and the Docks (Safety, Health and Welfare) (Forms) Regulations 1965 (S.I. No. 63 of 1965).
Further information on safety in ports and docks available at www.hsa.ie