Government must back Labour legislation to protect workers during extreme weather events
Government must back Labour legislation to protect workers during extreme weather events - The Labour Party
Labour workers’ rights spokesperson Senator Nessa Cosgrove has called on Senators across all parties to support the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Extreme Weather) Bill 2026, which she will introduce in the Seanad on Wednesday, 11 November. The Bill would require employers to include weather conditions in workplace risk assessments and implement an extreme weather response plan to protect staff.
Senator Cosgrove said:
“Workers should never have to take unnecessary risks because their employer has failed to plan for dangerous weather. Employers must take responsibility for assessing those risks and giving staff clear, safe instructions before conditions deteriorate.
“During Storm Éowyn, ambulance drivers reported that they were sent out in high-sided vehicles and told to assess the risks on the road. Early years educators were told to attend their workplaces even though the Department of Children had instructed settings to close to children.
“These examples show why clear responsibilities matter. An instruction to attend work can expose staff to danger even when their usual duties have stopped. Our Bill would require employers to carry out adequate risk assessments that account for weather conditions and implement an extreme weather response plan.
“This Bill builds on cross-party discussions and Unite’s Workers in the Eye of the Storm research and campaign. Unite has brought workers’ experiences into this debate and highlighted the need for practical protections that employers must put into effect.
“I am calling on Senators across all parties to support this Bill on 11th November. Government must act before the next storm leaves workers following unsafe instructions or making decisions without an adequate plan. Employers must prepare for extreme weather and take responsibility for protecting their staff.”