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What is Safe Pass?

Safe Pass at Work (Not currently an Online Course)

Safe Pass is a one day safety awareness programme aimed at construction workers. The aims of the programme are to raise the standard of safety awareness in the construction industry and that all construction workers after completing the one day awareness programme can make a positive contribution to the prevention of accidents and ill health while working on the site.

The Safe Pass programme is operated and managed by Solas. www.solas.ie

SafePass is a general awareness programme and does not negate the duty of the employer under the Act in regards to the provision of information, instruction and training to enable the person to carry out their work safely.

Who needs to do Safe Pass awareness training?

Under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 Safe Pass / Safety Awareness Programmes only applies to –

(a) Craft and general construction workers,

(b) Persons undertaking on-site security work, and

The Health and Safety Authority in conjunction with the Construction Advisory Committee have produced a summary guide of the categories of persons to whom Safe Pass does and does not apply.

Summary checklist for Safe Pass

Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects	Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory	Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects	Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory
Craft Workers	Yes	Project Managers/Site Agents not involved in construction activities	No
Apprentices	Yes	Site Managers not involved in construction activities	No
General Construction Workers	Yes	Safety Advisor’s or Safety Officers not involved in construction work	No
Working Chargehands	Yes
On-site Security Workers	Yes	PSDP/PSCS	No
Contractors Drivers On-site	Yes	Inspectors/Consultants	No
Delivery Drivers On-site e.g. concrete trucks	Yes	Clients & Client Reps	No
Students on Placement on site	Yes
Delivery Drivers Not On-site e.g. delivering to compounds, canteens,offices	No	Supervised Visitors	No
Canteen Staff	No	Archaeologists	No (see below)
Site Office Staff	No	Sales Representatives	No
Architects, Surveyors, Engineers	No	Visitors to Show Houses	No

Vehicles continue to be the biggest killers on Irish Farms

Vehicles continue to be the biggest killers on Irish Farms. Quad fatalities represent 19% of all farm vehicle fatalities the past 10 years (2008 – 2017)

75% of those that suffered fatal quad accidents were aged 60 years or older and over 25% were aged between 20-49 years of age.

In general roll-over bars are not provided with Quads because traditional roll over bar design depended for its effectiveness on the operator wearing a seat belt otherwise there was a risk of the thrown operator being struck by the bars in the event of a roll over.

More recently roll-over protection devices have appeared on the market designed for use with Quads with one of which has been certified in accordance with the requirements of the European Communities Machinery Directive and the Authority has been asked for its view on these devices. Fitting of CE Marked Roll-Over Protection Devices (ROPs), now available on the market for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or Quads, is at the discretion of the owner/operator.

The Health and Safety Authority does not have sufficient information at this time to form a view on the effectiveness of these novel designs and thus is not issuing an instruction or recommendation in respect of such devices.

HSA and Primary School principals join forces to promote farm safety

Farms Safety for Children

Schools Out… The Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Primary Principles Network (IPPN) have issued a joint appeal to primary schools to promote a strong farm safety message to children beofre they break for the summer.

Summer holidays are a high risk time for children who are off school and spend a lot of time on their family farm or visiting friends and relatives farms. It is also a very busy time for farmers when much work needs to be done.

Farm accidents have claimed the lives of 23 children in the last decade and account for 11% of all farm fatalities over the period.

Farms remain the only workplace in Ireland where children still continue to die. Farm deaths involving children are always a horrific tragedy for families and heart-breaking for communities and schools alike.

The HSA website has numerous online farm safety resources for teachers to use in the classroom which can be covered in an interactive, fun and stimulating way. IPPN is supporting the HSA in communicating this important message to its members.

Joanne Harmon, Education Manager with the HSA said: “Teachers can access a range of online farm safety resources for primary schools on our website at hsa.ie/education, under Teacher Supports and Resources and some available in gaeilge”.

Ms. harmon added:”Farm safety is an explicit topic in the SPHE curriculum at primary level. Schools can make a real difference by empowering children to raising their own awareness of farm hazards and encouraging them to bring the safety message home to parents and grandparents.

Are you safe at work?

Safety in the workplace

Work at height means working in a place (except a staircase in a permanent workplace) where a person could be injured by falling from it, even if it is at or below ground level.

The Work at Height Regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers and the self-employed.

Some examples of activities covered by the Regulations include:

Using a kick-stool or step ladder in a stock room or library
Order picking using a fork-truck with an integrated platform
Using a mobile elevating work platform to erect steel work
Using trestles and ladders to paint or clean
Changing lamps or ceiling tiles in an office
Working on the back of a lorry to sheet a load
Working on top of a fuel truck
Climbing masts or poles
Rigging lighting for a concert or stage production
Using harnesses and ropes professionally to instruct in abseiling or rock climbing
Working close to an open excavation or cellar trap door
Erecting bill posters at a height
Erecting or working on a scaffold

Click here for the safe at work information sheet.

Health and Safety Authority begins intensive construction safety campaign

European Healthy Workplace Campaign 2018 – 2019

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will today (Monday 11th June) begin an inspection and awareness campaign targeting the construction sector. Inspectors from the HSA will be inspecting construction sites nationwide over the next fortnight, with a particular focus on safe working around excavations and safety in timber frame house erection.

In the past 5 years there have been 5 fatal accidents where workers were killed as a result of an excavation collapse or from engulfment in earth or other materials. The Authority wants to raise awareness of the risks and will be focusing on the provision and management of safe work practices where excavation work is occurring on site.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 set out the precautions that must be taken during excavation work:

Employers must risk assess their work and ensure appropriate controls are identified and implemented. This may include:
– battering back the sides of the excavation,
– use of shoring,
– sheet piling, and
– trench boxes.
Other alternative methods such as directional drilling may also be considered at design stage.
Care must be taken not to undermine any structures adjacent to excavations.
Edge protection should be installed to prevent workers and materials falling into the excavations.
Safe access and egress to the excavation must be provided.
Daily and weekly inspections of the excavation must be carried out by a competent person.

Michael McDonagh, Head of Construction Policy with the Health and Safety Authority said:

“Working in excavations can be particularly dangerous and it is important that a competent person carries out a thorough examination of the excavation prior to anybody entering it. Subsequently it must be inspected by a competent person daily or before each shift begins. Another thorough examination of the excavation and support equipment must be undertaken every seven days thereafter, or after any alteration, and written records of this inspection must be kept. It is important to focus on surface conditions, the excavation banks, access and egress, shoring equipment and of course the weather conditions.”

Speaking about why there will be a focus on timber frame houses, Michael McDonagh said:

“Timber frame houses are again becoming popular with builders. They provide a quick and efficient method for construction of housing. However, they pose some different challenges in relation to safety than those presented when using traditional building methods. When constructing timber frame houses it is important to consider; loading and unloading of frames, handling of frames on site, supporting the frames during erection, fire issues during the construction stage, working at height issues including different scaffolding requirements.”

Further information is available from http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Construction/

ENDS

Cancer Linked To Your Occupation

There are over 40,000 people being diagnosed of cancer every year in Ireland.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer followed by prostrate, breast, bowel and lung caners.

While most cancer is notting to do with work, there are well-recognised causes for those that are linked with occupation. The most common causes of work-related cancers are:

Ultraviolet light (mainly from natural sunlight, not exclusively to do with work, but is significant for those who work outdoors);
Ultraviolet light from sunbeds,(where there may be a risk for sunbed operators and their employees).
Some chemicals (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] from coal tar, pitch and unrefined mineral oils);
Ionising radiation (e.g. from radioactive substances and X-rays)
Asbestos inhalation can cause serious and fatal illness. People who are exposed to Asbestos breathe in tiny fibres that accumulate and lodge in the lungs. This can cause scarring, inflammation and mesothelioma cancer. It is a rare cancer and no known cure and develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.

Who is at risk from Asbestos related disease?

Everyone is at risk from this as the tiny particles are present in the air, water and soil. People who become ill are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

How can you protect yourself from Asbestos related illness?

There are a series of regulations to help protect workers form risks related to exposure. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) plays a major role in enforcing these regulations.

Employers are responsible for their employees who are at risk and must take the following steps to ensure this:

Identify any Asbestos before work starts and plan.
Do a risk assessment and write the plan
Inform employees about the levels of exposure and try to keep this level to a minimum.
Employ specialists where there are high levels of Asbestos.
Provide protective wear that is specific for the type of work and the level of asbestos in the air.
Provide information and training so that employees are aware of the dangers involved with asbestos.
Dispose all waste that contains asbestos.

For more information about asbestos, take our asbestos awareness certified online course.

Recommendations for workers in fear in the workplace

Speaking up in the workplace

Workers should not be in fear to speak up in their workplace if they think something is not safe. They have a right to a safe workplace and it is up to the employer to create this environment.

Employees often experience injuries or see hazards and do not know what to do or they are afraid of the repercussions. There should always be a plan in place and the employee should be aware of it. Every employer should ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees.

Here are some of the pain points that an employee faces if they are in fear to communicate what is happening in work.

Accepting pain as part of the job.
Not wanting to be labeled a “complainer”.
Believing home treatment would be sufficient.
Not being sure if the injury was work-related.
Fearing the loss of future or current jobs.
Not being able to afford time off without pay to see a doctor.
Not wanting to lose out on the safety incentive for no lost work time.

Employees should know their rights and be aware of The Safety and Health at Work Act 2005. This is in place to protect both the employer and employee. It is the duty of the employer to comply with this law. Health and Safety training course should be undertaken by all. Trust is very important and managers need to show they genuinely care by telling workers, “I want to know about problems so we can deal with them before somebody gets hurt in the workplace”.

Take an online safety course today and never be afraid to speak up in work no matter what!

Elearn Goes International with Online Health and Safety Training

Reiss Global Employees use Elearn to get certification.

ELearn’s Health & Safety Training solution allowed Reiss to provide an online course available 24/7 on any device connected to the internet and in an innovative approach. The training was made available on the point of sale machines within each store. The eLearn system automatically tracks participation and progress and keeps records of the training.

Reiss, modern fashion brand company, had implemented an in-house Health and Safety training practice. This required the trainer to travel to multiple locations from Glasgow to London to deliver “induction” courses. The travel time and distances to be covered created significant inefficiencies and did not automatically record the training given which had to be logged manually and re-entered into a central data base.

With the new online training course, staff have ample opportunity to avail of the training and access the knowledge base. It has led to a significant reduction in trainer’s travel time and is able to reach all REISS stores internationally from England to Japan. This regulated and measured online course gives Reiss confidence and peace of mind that they are delivering excellent training and have records to prove this. It also assists new staff even before they have set foot in a shop.

If you or your company would like to know more about our online training, contact us or simply click on the relevant course.

Businesses urged to heed health and safety warning

Health and Safety Warning

Companies and businesses across Dublin could be facing hefty fines and compensation claims. They could even face imprisonment if they only pay lip service to Health & Safety, an expert has warned.

Shane Lynam, Design Risk Management (DRM) said: “When it comes to Health & Safety management, ticking a box with once-off, limited training doesn’t go far enough to improve safety culture. “Safety training should be ongoing and forming good habits in the workplace,” said Mr Lynam. “Everyone deserves to be able to work safely. No one should be hurt or killed in their workplace. “You can’t expect people to form good manual handling habits if the only real engagement they have with a trainer is a three hour session every three years. “There needs to be follow up and support Management.”

Who can help?

Booterstown-based Design Risk Management is one of the leading Health & Safety training companies in Ireland. The company works with major companies such as insomnia, REISS, Dunwoody and Dobson, Tesco, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Portmarnock Golf Club, Johnny Foxes Pub, Castle Brands,JC Walsh Marble, Purcell Construction, M&P Construction and many more. DRM through its eLEARN series of courses can help business owners and managers stay out of court and avoid big fines and claims for compensation by staff.

In recent court actions taken by the authorities under Health & Safety legislation a company was fined €750,000 at Tralee Circuit Court while in a different case in Mayo a company was fined €300,000 for a fatality in the workplace. “These are typical of the kind of fines employers can face for contravention of Health & Safety regulations,” said Mr Lynam.

Online Training

“That is to say nothing of compensation claims which can be lodged by workers for injuries at work.” DRM has introduced a series of online training courses which will help companies meet their Health & Safety responsibilities while ensuring they stay on the right side of the law. And because eLEARN is online, people in remote locations who can’t make it to central locations for courses, means they can benefit by just logging in. “Online training is a great way for having people refreshed,” said Mr Lynam. “You are buying a course online but you are also getting the expertise and knowledge that comes with that. “We are the experts in what we do and can make a business owner’s life a whole lot easier if they use our service.”

For further information please call +353 1 693 1421 or email info@elearn.ie.