Entrepreneur Ben Dunne has highlighted the benefits of undertaking a safety audit at a breakfast briefing hosted by Olive Safety in Dublin.

Speaking to delegates in the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Mr Dunne drew attention to a recent Olive Safety report which stated that on average Irish companies pay 350% more by paying out costs associated with compensation claims, sick days, insurance costs and others than on the cost of becoming safety compliant.

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The Health and Safety Authority’s most recent annual figures (2005) show that there were 24,000 non-fatal work related injuries which Olive Safety estimate costs an average of €2,750 through costs and lost revenue. Fatal injuries for 2007 has reached 43 to date.

Olive Safety Chief Executive Brendan Kavanagh stated: "While the HSA is driving the Government-led initiatives to improve health and safety across all business sectors, there has to be a real cultural change within companies from the top down.

"The aim is to ultimately reduce fatal and non-fatal accidents in the workplace and it seems that the only way to drive the message home that an unsafe workplace is unacceptable is through a combination of clearer and specifically defined legislation with larger fines and greater liabilities on the individual."

(CL)