Read The Health & Safety Authority’s Ten Tips –
“1.Psychology tells us that much of our behaviour is learned and then subsequently reinforced through our daily interactions in the various social environments we operate in – at home, at work, whilst driving, when on holidays…everywhere, all the time. So, how can what psychology tells us help us change our own or others’ behaviour?
In the workplace we cannot underestimate, on a daily basis, the degree to which our behaviour is inuencing (positively or negatively) the behaviour of those we work with. Accordingly, starting with our own behaviour is an important mechanism to inuence behaviour change at work, or anywhere else. That might be, for instance, to concentrate on one of these:

• do things safer (more thoughtfully /slowly/ etc),
• to do things in a less chaotic way
• to relate in a more calm and convivial way to those we find hard to communicate with.

Then others will change in reaction to that.
2.All human behaviour is dynamic. In every organisation people behave in ways influenced by attitudes, thoughts, ruminations (thinking about thoughts) and the context (or culture) in which they exist.
3.The propensity to take risks differs across the lifespan (according to age) and across gender; older workers, or male workers, in certain contexts, will be more or less likely than younger works or females, to behave safely. Don’t ignore this just to be ‘politically correct’. Be correct and include a consideration of this in your assessment of things -people are not machines.
4.People behave differently when the same decision is presented a diffrent way. Look at how you present the issue – if you want someone to, for instance, stop doing something, or you want them to – as in Supervisors roles -ininfluence others to stop doing something, it’s often better to concentrate and use language which involves actively doing something else, rather than just using language of not doing the forbidden thing.
5.In their personal lives or at work, people tend to have their little habits and ways of doing things which makes up their comfort zone. In a change process, it is important to help people understand why you want them to do something differently. If they see where you want to go, you will have a better chance of getting them on board to bring about change more successfully.
6.Psychology tells us that people are hugely driven by social relations, by what others do and think and say. Although they may be ‘working’, people are also listening, seeing and passively as well as actively engaged in the social world at work; this is a real and important mechanism to influence behaviour change at work.
7.Brief Line Managers to recognise and reward publicly any attempt (even if not perfect) to carry out the new behaviors by employees in the initial stages of the change implementation. This will encourage repetition of those behaviors by those rewarded; commencement of desired behaviors by others who witness the reward; and if carried out with additional coaching where behaviour has not quite reached the new standard, will result in shaping behaviour to meet the objectives.
8.Communicate, communicate, communicate! Over communicate if necessary at the beginning but allow employees to feel they can ask any question at any time, …otherwise questions and fears will be answered by the rumour mill.
9.The ‘carrot and stick’ approach to motivating behaviour change doesn’t work for sustained change. Psychology tells us that individuals are motivated most by activities that they enjoy, find interesting, and have ownership over. Hence, in order to change behaviour, employees need to have a reason to change, believe that they are capable of the required change, and feel positive about the behaviour change.
10.Change is a way of life and we are never ready for it; choose to join the change and encourage others to do likewise and let them become a co-creator of the change as opposed to being a victim of it.”
Courtesy of The Health & Safety Authority.
 

 
 
 
“In addition to specialist training for Managers, Engineers, Craftsmen and other workers there is a legal requirement for all workers at Construction sites to have completed Safe Pass Training and for operators of certain mobile plant to hold the relevant CSCS training accreditation.

Important Note

FAS have been dissolved and a new organisation established. SOLAS is the new Further Education and Training Authority in Ireland. It is responsible for funding, planning and co-ordinating training and further education programmes.
SOLAS (An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna) was formally established on 27th October 2013 by Ruairí Quinn T.D., the Minister for Education and Skills.
SOLAS will be tasked with ensuring the provision of 21st century high quality Further Education and Training programmes which are responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changed and changing economy.

What will happen to SafePass and the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme?

SOLAS will be continuing this function in relation to the operation of SafePass and the CSCS.”
Courtesy of The Health & safety Authority.

EMS & Associates runs Solas SafePass training courses in their training centre every Saturday from 08.00am – 5.30pm.
The course fee is €100.00 per person. Each participant is required to bring a valid from of I.D. (driving licence, passport etc), PPS Number and a Passport sized photo. To book your place please contact our office on 041-9822933.

 
 
“The Farm Safety Partnership, an advisory committee of the Health and Safety Authority, has published its Farm Safety Action Plan 2016-18. The new action plan lays out a series of specific actions and priorities for tackling the high rates of illness, injury and death on Irish farms.
Farming continues to be the most dangerous sector in which to work with annual fatalities in recent years as high as 50% of the overall total from a sector that employs just 6% of the workforce. So far this year* seven people have lost their lives in work-related accidents on farms. Over the five year period between 2011 and 2015, 106 people were killed on farms and many thousands more seriously injured.
Welcoming the publication of the action plan, Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen TD said: “It is appropriate that this action plan has been developed with input from a wide range of key farming stakeholders. We must encourage all farmers to prioritise safety and health on their farms. There is no task so urgent or important to justify risking death or serious injury. The vast majority of accidents on farms are preventable and levels of awareness within farming communities are high. The key now is for farmers to put safety at the centre of their activities and take just a few minutes each day to think about what they’re doing.
“I know that farming is a very tough job and that farmers can feel isolated and overwhelmed. But this is exactly why it’s vital to set aside some time to make sure an accident doesn’t occur. I urge all farmers to think the unthinkable and Take Five Minutes to do whatever is necessary to make sure it doesn’t happen”.
Speaking after the publication of the plan Jim Phelan, HSA Board member and Chairman of the Farm Safety Partnership said: “This is our second three year action plan and although we’ve seen significant increases in awareness and understanding of the hazards on farms, this is not being borne out by sustained reductions in the number of fatalities occurring each year. Certain hazards are still causing the majority of fatal and serious injury. In particular, working with machinery and livestock must be carried out with greater care. Make sure the tractor is in perfect working order, that the PTO guard is in place, get the handbrake fixed, be alert for signs of aggressiveness in livestock, stay off fragile roofs – simple steps like these will save lives and prevent serious injuries”.
Copies of the Farm Safety Action Plan 2016-18 can be downloaded from http://www.hsa.ie/!0QCZYZ”
Courtesy of The Health & Safety Authority.

 
“A film production company has admitted health and safety breaches after an incident in which Hollywood star Harrison Ford was crushed by a hydraulic door on the set of the Millennium Falcon spaceship while filming the latest Star Wars movie.
Harrison, who was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the heavy door, could have been killed in the incident as he rehearsed during shooting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire on June 12 2014, a court heard.
The then 71-year-old was reprising his role as Han Solo when he was hit by the door, which had been designed to mimic the action of a door on the original set.
Foodles Production (UK) Ltd, which is owned by Disney, admitted two breaches under health and safety law.
Prosecuting at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court, Andrew Marshall said that the actor had gone through the door with another actor and hit a button,
He started to walk back through the door, believing the set was not live and that it would not close.
But the court heard it was remotely operated by another person, and that as the star passed underneath it he was hit in the pelvic area and pinned to the ground.
Mr Marshall said there was a “risk of death”, saying: “It could have killed somebody. The fact that it didn’t was because an emergency stop was activated.”
The actor was severely injured and left with a broken left leg in the incident, and was airlifted to hospital in Oxford.
Mr Marshall said the circumstances created a risk of death and had the emergency stop button not been pressed the situation could have “eventuated differently”.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the the power of the rapidly closing metal-framed door meant Harrison was hit with a power comparable to the weight of a small car.
The Hollywood star himself talked about the incident during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show before Christmas, referring to the “f****** great hydraulic door”.
Foodles pleaded guilty to one count under section two of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which related to a breach of duty in relation to employees, and a second under section three, a breach over people not employed by the company.
Two further charges, under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and one under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 were both withdrawn as the facts will be incorporated into the two admitted breaches.
The company will be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court over the breaches, expected to happen on August 22.”
Courtesy of the Evening Echo.
EMS & Associates would be more than happy to look over your Safety Statement and update where needed. Please call our office on 041-9822933 to arrange a consultation.

“Do I need a qualified first aider in my workplace?
A risk assessment in the context of the Safety Statement should consider the numbers employed, the nature of the work, the degree of hazard, the level of accidents arising, the size and location of the workplace, the distribution of the employees, shift working, availability of an occupational health service with the workplace and the distance and duration from external medical services etc.
If the designated occupational first aider is absent from the place of work, what must the employer do?
If the occupational first aider is absent in temporary or exceptional circumstances, the employer may designate a person, to take charge of an injured or ill person until medical assistance is obtained. Such person’s functions, if they have not received training in basic life saving skills, would, primarily be to seek appropriate assistance as soon as possible and to ensure that nothing further is allowed to occur which would exacerbate the problems of the injured person.
Foreseeable absences such as planned annual leave are not considered “temporary or exceptional circumstances” In these situations the employer must ensure that there is an adequate number of trained occupational first aiders to cover the foreseeable absences or leave, if the need for an occupational first aider in the workplace has been identified.
 
How are the emergency services contacted?
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the local emergency services must be clearly displayed in the workplace. Emergency plans and procedures must be in place and people designated and trained to implement them. It must be clear who makes contact with the emergency services.
Where do I find an occupational first aid training provider?
Employer should only use occupational first aid providers registered with the occupational first aid assessment agent (OFAAA) to deliver training. Details of registered organisations and individual instructors can be found at www.ofaaa.com or by phoning 1890 223 223. EMS & Associates is a registered organisation with OFAAA and can deliver QQI Level 5 – Occupational First Aid and Occupational First Aid Refresher training courses.
How long is an occupational first aid training course?
A training course is run over a minimum of 3 days or 24 hours with a 2 hour assessment/exam. Courses can be delivered over a number of weeks.
What is the retraining requirement?
Occupational first aiders must do a 1 day refresher and assessment to be re-certified.
When do occupational first aiders need additional training?
Occupational first aiders may need additional specialised training if a work place has employees exposed to any special hazards such as:

• risk of poisoning by toxic substances, e.g. certain cyanides and related compounds
• risk of burns from corrosive or oxidising substances, e.g. hydrofluoric acid
• risk of accidental exposure to hazardous substances, e.g. toxic, irritant or asphyxiant gases, requiring oxygen for resuscitation
• Other specific risks identified in the Safety Statement
• Additional provisions in other regulations such as administration of oxygen

What type of a certificate does a first aider receive?
An occupational first aider will receive a QQI Level 5 certificate in Occupational First Aid.
The first aider will also receive a certificate from the registered training provider stating the first aider successfully completed the training and the date of issue will be on this certificate.
Thereafter, the first aider will receive a certificate from the registered training provider for 2 yearly refresher training as QQI does not issue refresher certificates.
How long is certification valid for?
Occupational first aid certification is valid for 2 years after which refresher training is required.
What happens if a first aider’s training lapses?
Where training for an occupational first aider lapses, a 1 day refresher training is required if the lapse is less than 3 months, otherwise the full 3 day training is required. The important date to note is the date on the certificate from the training provider and not the date on the QQI certificate.
QQI certificates are dated the date of issue which is some time after the training date while refresher certificates issued by training providers will normally have the date of the training.
What first aid records and documentation need to be kept?
The names of occupational first aider must be recorded in the Safety Statement along with the location of the first aid rooms, equipment and facilities.
Written records of the dates of all first aid training, including refresher training should be kept at the workplace and be made available on request to the Health and Safety Inspector.
Records of all cases treated by the first aider should be kept in a suitable secure place, respecting their confidential nature and be made available on request to the Health and Safety Inspector.
 
What is an AED?
A defibrillator is a device that delivers an electric shock to the heart muscle through the chest wall in order to restore a normal heart rate.
An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a portable defibrillator designed to be automated such that it can be used by persons without substantial medical training who are responding to a cardiac emergency.
Are occupational first aiders trained in the use of AED?
Yes, AED is part of the Cardiac First Response (CFR) Unit of the QQI Level 5 OFA Standard and first aiders are trained in its use.
Do I have to have a first aid room at my workplace?
Premises must have one or more first aid rooms if the Safety Statement risk assessment shows that it is necessary and based on the following criteria:

• Premises size
• Type of activity being carried out
• Frequency of accidents arising
• Existence of special hazards
• Distance from nearest appropriate medical facility.

What should be considered when planning and designing first aid rooms?
A number of factors need to be considered when planning, designing and equipping first aid rooms:

• Location to take account of proximity to work areas and access for transport to hospital
• Sufficient size to include equipment
• Entrance wide enough to accommodate ambulance trolley, stretcher
• Impervious floor covering, with surfaces easy to clean
• Sink facilities with hot and cold running water
• Provision of telephone

What is the maximum number of learners/trainees to an instructor?
10 is the maximum number. This is to ensure learners have sufficient time to develop first aid skills. The instructor is required to have a mannequin and training AED for every 4 learners.
Who does the first aid assessment?
For a 3 day course a separate instructor (examiner) must do the assessment.
For the 1 day refresher course, the same instructor or a different instructor can do the assessment.”
Courtesy of The Health & Safety Authority.
If you find you still have some unanswered questions, please contact our office on 041-9822933 and we would be more than happy to offer our advice. EMS & Associates are regularly running Occupational First Aid training courses in Dublin and Drogheda. If you would like to book a place please call 041-9822933 or email susan@emsandassocitaes.com.