Seán Walsh

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national statutory body in Ireland with responsibility for ensuring that approximately 1.8 million workers and those affected by work activity are protected from work-related injury and ill health. We do this by enforcing occupational health and safety law, promoting accident prevention, and providing information and advice across all industry sectors. We also have a key role in protecting human health (workers and the general public) and the environment from risks arising from the use of chemicals. In addition, as the Competent Authority for EU Regulations such as REACH, we have an important role in enhancing competitiveness and innovation and ensuring the free movement of goods in the EU market. We are a key agency involved in market surveillance and ensuring the safety of specific products used in workplaces, homes and in consumer applications. In this context, we have a remit to protect our population of over 4.6 million people from unsafe products and articles and to enable the international movement and trade of goods manufactured in Ireland. The Irish National Accreditation Body (INAB), now part of the HSA, provides the national accreditation service which assures the quality and standard of Irish products and services. As an internationally recognised mark, accreditation allows Irish companies to market their products and services worldwide.