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News release

26 October 2011 - NR 56/11

Man of the law nets top health and safety accolade

The man whose work on safety and health law has influenced some of Ireland’s legislative developments in work-related safety, health and welfare has scooped a prestigious award.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Ireland Branch named Raymond Byrne its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Person of the Year in Dublin today (26 October), because of his contribution to preventing workplace injury and ill-health. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton presented him the award, acknowledging his role in ensuring that Irish law reflects the needs of society.

Raymond Byrne has been teaching and writing about safety and health law for over 20 years. More recently, he has been Director of Research with the Law Reform Commission, whose statutory mandate is to keep the law under review.

Mr Byrne said: “It’s a great honour to know that the many members of IOSH believe that you have made a difference to an area that is so important for the 1.8 million people at work in Ireland. The Institution does great work and I’m happy to be able to play some part in the ongoing goal of preventing workplace accidents and ill-health.

“It’s hard to imagine that only just over 20 years ago the rate of work-related deaths was six per 100,000. Since then it has been more than halved. And it’s because of the work of organisations like the Health and Safety Authority and IOSH that many thousands of people are working in safer and healthier workplaces.

“It would be terrible to think that we would have to bear all the costs – human, social and financial – if we were not able to continue with all the good work of the last 20 years,” he added.

IOSH Ireland Branch chair Declan Gibney praised the work of experts like Mr Byrne, whose fresh outlook on health and safety does great work in improving it from a different perspective.

“Raymond’s championing of the safety, health and welfare cause has made a big difference over the years. His authoritative, knowledgeable voice has had a very positive impact on our profession and without the effort and hard work of people like him, Ireland would not be in the strong position it is today to build on its health and safety record,” Mr Gibney added.

Minister Bruton presented the award to Mr Byrne and paid tribute to his work.

He said “A lot of good work has been done in recent years to reduce the unacceptably high number of deaths every year in Irish workplaces, but more must be done.

“Everyone with an interest in workplace safety – including employers, workers and government, through to the Health and Safety Authority, professional organisations like IOSH and experts like Raymond Byrne - has an important role to play in building on the achievements so far, and I urge them to continue working hard in close cooperation with each other to reduce workplace fatalities.

“I am delighted to be involved in this event to recognise people who have made a contribution to this crucial area, and I congratulate Raymond Byrne in particular on the excellent work he has done”.

Mr Byrne is the author of leading textbook, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Law in Ireland and co-founded a postgraduate master’s programme in safety and health at Dublin City University. His writing on safety and health law has been widely acknowledged as having influenced the ongoing development and reform of Ireland’s legislation, now contained in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

The Ireland OSH Person of the Year award is now in its third year, and was held this year at Dublin’s Merrion Hotel.

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.