HSE must publish names of people killed at work

News | HSP
25.07.2008

The Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) has succeeded in an appeal to the Information Commissioner to force the HSE to publish the names of people killed in work accidents once the coroner's inquest has opened.

The CCA appealed to the Commissioner after the HSE argued, among other things, that providing the names of people killed at work would breach the European Convention on Human Rights as the families could be adversely affected.

The Information Commissioner accepted the CCA's argument that this information would already be in the public domain at the time of the inquest opening. The Commissioner also noted that other government bodies routinely make such information public.

The CCA said the information will help it publicise the circumstances of work-related fatalities and track how the enforcing bodies investigate them.

Executive director of the CCA David Bergman said he was delighted with the decision.

"It is important that members of the public are informed about how people die at work, how these deaths can be prevented and the effectiveness of the state bodies in their investigation and prosecution."

The HSE has 28 days to appeal.