Workplace Safety

Working from Home

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Are you back working from home due to COVID-19 Level 5 lockdown?  Do you know how to set up your workstation properly? Correct DSE/VDU set up is very important for good ergonomics and to maintain good posture.

In this video, you will get advice on how to set up at the kitchen table or home office.  Stay safe, stay healthy!

HSA Changes in the First Aid Standard

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The standard in relation to First Aid in the workplace is changing and it will impact on businesses in terms of cost of training. The Health and Safety Authority are the ones that are responsible for standards in relation to this. The standard is moving from QQI/FETAC to PHECC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council).

Currently training providers can take 10 participants on a 3 day Occupational First Aid Course (QQI) but this is now changing to 6 participants on a 3 day First Aid Responder Course (PHECC).   The Occupational First Aid Refresher Course is currently 1 day (with 10 participants) but this is changing to a 2 day First Aid Responder Refresher (with 6 participants).   This will impact on the cost of training, which will impact on the cost to businesses.

This change takes place on 1st September 2017.   In the meantime the existing Occupational First Aid standard will be effective until 31st August 2017.  Should anyone require any further information, please contact our office on 041-9822933.

HSA to begin inspection campaign to tackle vehicle risks at work

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The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will begin a nationwide work related vehicle safety inspection and information campaign on Monday (22 May). The campaign will last two weeks and will focus on four key sectors: Transport and Logistics; Wholesale and Retail; Waste and Recycling and Manufacturing.

The purpose of the campaign is to make sure that employers are aware of their legal responsibilities for managing vehicle risks, and to help them reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring.
Over the last 6 years, just under half (45%) of all workplace fatalities have involved vehicles. In the same period nearly one in five (18%) of all non-fatal accidents were vehicle related.
An analysis of HSA accident statistics indicates that the majority of these fatalities occurred during the manoeuvring, reversing or coupling and uncoupling of vehicles. Non-fatal injuries generally occurred during the manual handling of loads or as the result of falls from vehicles.

Deirdre Sinnott, Senior Inspector with the HSA says that the risks can be reduced by focusing on four key areas.
“Firstly, employers should have a vehicle risk management policy that covers all vehicle related activities in the workplace.  This includes not only vehicles operated by employees but also those visiting that need to be managed and controlled. It is also important that procedures are in place to eliminate and control known risks associated with:  driving for work, loading and unloading, deliveries and collections, parking, reversing and manoeuvring. Then safety information, instruction and training should be provided for all employees and finally, a method to record and learn from all incidents or near misses and take corrective action where necessary.”

There are free short on-line courses, aimed at helping employers to manage work related vehicle safety, on the HSA e-learning portal http://hsalearning.ie
Also, freely available guidance and resources can be found on the HSA website.

European Safety Week 24th – 28th October 2016

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European Safety week is taking place this year from 24th – 28th October and the theme for 2016 is “Healthy Workplaces for All Ages”.   It is organised by EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and its partners.  The purpose of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of a sustainable working life.   The campaign is spread throughout all 31 EU Members and is being supported in Ireland by the Health and Safety Authority.
“Special film screenings, social media events, conferences, exhibitions, competitions and training sessions are just some of the activities organised to celebrate the European Week. If you have an idea for an awareness-raising activity, or want to launch a longer-term safety and health project to tie in with the Healthy Workplaces for All Ages campaign, then the European Week could be the perfect time to make sure your event gets the attention it deserves”. (Ref: www.healthy-workplaces.eu)

The Health and Safety Authority promote European Safety Week and have the Healthy Workplaces “Good Practice Awards” the aims of which are:

“to recognise and highlight organisations making outstanding and innovative contributions to safety and health at work in the context of an aging workforce.  Work is part of the solution, not the problem, to Europe’s aging workforce. Has your organisation implemented age-sensitive policies? Do you have a good example of an intervention or tool for managing an aging workforce? If so you may want to consider submitting an application for the Good Practice Awards.

For more information, contact Annette Slater at annette_slater@hsa.ie or telephone (01) 7997800.” (Ref: www.hsa.ie)

EMS & Associates can help you put together a series of events that will focus on Healthy Workplaces for All Ages, which will create awareness and promote good practices amongst the workforce.  For more information, call us on (041) 9822933 or email info@emsandassociates.com