Page 68 - Workplace Relations Guide to Employment Law

Regulations provide the statutory provisions BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE
in a self-contained, easily assessable and
user friendly format. The Health and Safety Authority is the central
co-ordinating State Agency for matters
These Regulations address legal requirements relating to workplace bullying. In this regard,
concerning workplaces and work equipment, any individual who has a concern about
the safe use of electricity in the workplace, workplace bullying should contact the Anti-
procedures for safe work at height, control of Bullying Response Unit, which is based at
physical agents at work (i.e. noise, vibration the Health and Safety Authority’s Head Office
and artificial optical radiation), the protection at Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street,
of sensitive risk groups (i.e. children and Dublin 2, D01 K0Y8.
young people, pregnant and breastfeeding
employees and night and shift workers), There are three relevant Codes of Practice in
the provision of safety signs and first aid this area:
at work, protection for persons working in
explosive atmospheres and safe working of 4 The Code of Practice for Employers
pressure systems. and Employees on the Prevention
and Resolution of Bullying at Work-
The procedures governing the notification to introduced in 2007 under the Safety,
the Health and Safety Authority of accidents Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
and dangerous occurrences is set down in is aimed at preventing and dealing
Part X and the Twelfth Schedule of the with bullying where is happens in
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Irish workplaces. It is code for both
Application - Regulations 1993 (S.I. No. 44 employers and employees and is
of 1993). The Regulations impose general administered by the Health and
and specific obligations on employers with Safety Authority.
regard to the evaluation and reduction of 4 The Code of Practice detailing
the exposure of employees to occupational Procedures for Addressing Bullying
risk and hazards, the development of risk in the Workplace -made under the
prevention policies, consultation, training Industrial Relations Act 1990 and
and information of workers and health administered by the Workplace
surveillance. Employees are also obliged Relations Commission.
by these Regulations to cooperate with
employers in matters relating to the 4 The Code of Practice on Guidance
protection of their own safety and health on Prevention and Procedures for
at work. dealing with Sexual Harassment and
Harassment at Work made under the
There are also issue and sector specific Employment Equality Act 1998 and
regulations e.g. asbestos, carcinogens, administered by the Irish Human
chemical agents, construction, explosive Rights and Equality Authority.
atmospheres, mines and quarries. The 2005
Act continues to be augmented by a growing
body of secondary legislation reflecting
ongoing developments at EU level in the
area of Occupational Safety and Health.

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