Public Consultation

HSA Public Consultation Portal

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places an obligation on the Health and Safety Authority to keep under review relevant statutory provisions, and to submit to the Minister any proposals it considers appropriate.  To facilitate this obligation, and provide a robust method for the public to submit their observations on any statutory instruments or codes of practice under review, the HSA runs a dedicated Public Consultation portal.

What personal data do we gather?

• First Name
• Surname
• Home address
• Current Employer
• Email Address

In addition to the above, individuals will also attach a document, usually MS Word or PDF, that contains their observations on the statutory instrument or code of practice under review.  This can sometimes also contain personal data of the individual, although it is already legislated for in the submission form that facilitates the submission process and procures the information bulleted above.

How do we use this data?

This data primarily gives us details of the author of a particular submission.  Submitter details will be published, with the exception of personal contact details and home addresses of individuals (individuals responding in their professional capacity will have their contact details published). Responses to public consultations are invited on the basis that submitters agree to their response being dealt with in this way. Submitters are also asked to note that the Authority is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003. 

Who do we share this data with?

The Authority will publish a document showing the outcome of the consultation process. The outcome document will include each submission and the Authority’s consideration of the submission. The outcome document will be published after the draft regulations or code of practice have been approved by the Board and transmitted to the Department. 

How long do we hold this data?

When a consultation has finished and the outcome document has been finalised, all contributing data (email, feedback documents, personal data held on database tables) is destroyed.

How do we ensure your privacy is maintained?

The strictest encryption methods are used throughout the Public Consultation portal, ensuring that data is stored and transferred in the securest method possible.  Any hard copy records derived from any submissions made through the portal are handled with the utmost discretion all staff involved with the Public Consultation process, as mandated by records management and data protection policies & procedures.

Your legal rights relating to your data 

You have the right to:

• ask what personal data that we hold about you at any time,
• ask to update and correct any out-of-date or incorrect personal data that we hold about you free of charge, and
• have any personal data about you deleted. 

If you wish to exercise any of the above rights, please email your request to our data protection officer at dpo@hsa.ie