EMS & Associates were delighted to participate in the SENSES Workshop, organised by Modig Corporate Services, in Barberstown Castle on 09.09.2015 – a great skills development day.
S h a r p n e s s
E m o t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e
N e w O u t l o o k s
S t r e s s R e d u c t i o n
E n f o r c e m e n t
S t r u c t u r e s & S t a n d a r d s
Visit the Modig Corporate Services website for details of their upcoming courses…. click here – Modig!
Drogheda Chamber of Commerce – Facebook for Business Seminar 22.07.2015
A very informative Facebook seminar with Sixtwo Digital yesterday in the West Court Hotel. We were delighted to be the sponsor for Drogheda & District Chamber of Commerce.
H.S.A. Safety Alert – Construction Sector
Operation of Fully Automatic Excavator Quick Hitches. (Disengaging the Bucket)
Following a recent incident, The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is issuing an urgent warning to Construction Employers, SOLAS CSCS Trainers and Excavator Drivers of the dangers associated with how certain types of automatic excavator quick-hitches are operated. The concern arises from the bucket on the quick-hitch disengaging more rapidly than the operator expects. This in turn could lead to the bucket falling on personnel causing serious injury or death.
The HSA understands that many operators do not expect excavator buckets attached via quick-hitches to disengage unless the bucket is “crowded” inwards (See Fig 1).
However this is not necessarily the case since with some designs once the disengagement switch is activated, the bucket may disengage rapidly. This will happen if there is a small build-up of hydraulic pressure in the quick-hitch. Such a build-up can happen in matter of seconds. The risk appears to be particularly pronounced on certain types of “tilt-rotate” type excavator attachments.
Operators should NEVER press the disengagement switch of a quick-hitch before the bucket has been landed to a stable landing space (See Fig 2), preferably its transport position. This space should be level and should be such that the bucket is not in danger of rolling or falling further.
The HSA also advises that disengagement switches must be fully maintained. This includes maintenance of a lock to prevent inadvertent operation and an audible signal to warn of the activation of the disengagement switch.
In certain instances there may be two separate couplers each with its own separate set of controls. This might be the case where one controller controls the coupling of an attachment such as a tilt-rotate mechanism to the excavator arm while a second controller might control the attachment of an excavator bucket to the tilt rotate mechanism. In such instances the operator should be aware of which controls operates which mechanism.
The owner and operator should always refer to the instruction manual in order to operate these attachments in a safe manner.
– See more at: http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Safety_Alerts/2015/Excavator_Quick_Hitch_2015/#sthash.rXw91L6f.dpuf
Note a bucket does not always need to be crowded to disengage.
Fig 1: Excavator Bucket “crowded” inward.
Fig 2: Ensure that Bucket is on a flat level stable surface before pressing the disengagement switch
Drogheda Expo 2015
EMS & Associates are once delighted to be an exhibitor at the Drogheda & District Chamber Expo 2015 in the Westcourt Hotel on Tuesday 14.04.2015
We are looking forward to meeting clients – both new and old! We are especially pleased to be providing details of our new B2B Service which covers Business Development Planning, Marketing, Training in Negotiation Techniques, Effective Meetings, Presentation Skills, Sales Training and ISO Auditing.
Our team will be on hand to answer any queries you may have and our Training Director, Carmel McCarthy, will be a panellist on the 2.00pm seminar on the “Do’s and Don’t s” of running your own business – should be interesting!
We also will have some special raffle prizes as we continue our 20th Birthday Celebrations!!
EMS & Associates Official Opening 01.04.2015
EMS & Associates officially opened their new office and training centre in East Coast Business Park and Mr. Ged Nash, T.D. & Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation performed the opening. EMS was also celebrating 20 years in the Health and Safety business.
Having started out in 1995 offering First Aid training only, over the years EMS broadened their range of courses within the Health and Safety industry. In 2007 they became a FETAC Quality Assured Training Centre. Shortly after that they became an Irish Heart Foundation Training Site and, more recently, a Solas Safepass Approved Training Organisation. They also offer a full range of Health and Safety Consultancy services to businesses.
As part of their commitment to developing their Training and Consultancy services to suit the needs of the market, EMS announced a new Business to Business service which will incorporate Business Development, Marketing and ISO Auditing. There will be a range of training courses and consultancy services available that can be moulded to suit the client. This service has been driven by the needs that have been identified in the recovering market and marks a new departure for EMS and a positive reflection of the economic recovery within the country and the local environs.
Minister Nash praised the commitment and hard work done by EMS & Associates and welcomed the expansion of their services. He said he was honoured to help mark the 20th anniversary and open the new offices and training centre. He also highlighted the upcoming Workers’ Memorial Day on 28th April next. This will be an annual event to promote safety and health in the workplace, with the support of workers, employers and the Health and Safety Authority. In the 5 year period between 2010 and 2014, 253 people were killed in work related accidents and last year alone 56 people died. In speaking about these figures, Minister Nash said it was only by working together for the common good that we will see a significant drop in these figures. Memorial Day will create awareness and, in turn, bring about action to ensure a culture of prevention in the workplace. Niall Edwards, Managing Director of EMS & Associates, echoed the Minister’s sentiments and expressed concern at the number of fatalities within the Agricultural sector. He said that Health and Safety was not about enforcing rules and regulations but about creating awareness and developing a safety culture to ensure best practice in health and safety in all workplaces.
Thoughts of the Day
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
“If you focus on results you will never change but focus on change and you will get results”
“Don’t look back, because your not going that way”