HSA signs agreement to use drones 'during serious workplace incident investigations'
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has signed a new agreement to use drones during serious incident investigations.
According to Mark Cullen, CEO of the HSA, it has signed a new agreement with AirNav Ireland which provides air traffic management services in the airspace controlled by Ireland.
If an incident or accident involves a breach of health and safety legislation, then HSA inspectors have a responsibility to investigate and take appropriate enforcement action.
Cullen said today (Friday, January 23): “This agreement with AirNav Ireland marks an important step forward in how we investigate serious workplace incidents.
"Drones give us the ability to capture high‑quality aerial evidence safely and quickly, especially in locations that may be dangerous or inaccessible to inspectors.”
Drones
Under the new agreement, AirNav Ireland will "facilitate HSA access to controlled airspace such as Dublin, Shannon, Cork and regional airports" and also provide short‑notice flight approvals where required.
According to the HSA this will enable it to deploy trained drone pilots to "capture high‑quality aerial photographs and video evidence at incident scenes, including hazardous environments".
Cullen said that by formalising how it works with AirNav Ireland its drone operations can "take place safely within controlled airspace and in line with all aviation requirements".
"Ultimately, this strengthens our ability to understand how incidents occur and to help prevent similar tragedies in the future," he added.
The HSA has established a regionally based team of drone pilots who support inspectors during serious and fatal accident investigations.
It has said that drone technology enables improved evidence collection, safer access to high‑risk locations, and "better-quality data for investigation files and potential prosecutions".
Cathal MacCriostail, manager of airspace and navigation at AirNav Ireland, said the new agreement with the HSA "stablishes clear and practical procedures to facilitate drone flights within controlled airspace while maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.”
“Our goal is to ensure that these important missions can take place safely, efficiently and in full coordination with air traffic services across the state," he added.
