Home and Hybrid Working
Home and hybrid working is not unusual anymore and a significant number of employees are working in this way. Remote working is when work activities are undertaken outside of the employers’ normal work premises. This includes working from home and/or working from a remote working hub. In addition, workers might work in a hybrid arrangement, where their time is split between their workplace and home.
Health and Safety Responsibilities of Employers for Home and Hybrid Working
According to the Health and Safety legislation, the responsibility for Health and Safety at work rests with the employer. This is regardless of whether an employee works remotely. Although risks to home workers will be low most of the time they are still present. However, the actions employers should take to protect them are straightforward. To ensure Health and Safety laws and standards are maintained at all times, an employer must conduct a Risk Assessment. Specifically, the Risk Assessment should focus on the following areas:
- Stress and poor mental health.
- Using equipment like computers and laptops safely.
- Their working environment.
To assist employers in Risk Assessing employees’ remote working environment, the HSA has prepared a useful Remote Working Guidance and Checklist.
Health and Safety Responsibilities of Employees for Home and Hybrid Working
Like any worker, in any work environment, remote workers must take care of their own health and safety. In addition, this extends to the safety of others as well and all those who may be harmed by remote workers actions while they are working. Indeed, all employees must fully cooperate with their employers and other workers. For example, employers must follow employers recommendations based on the Risk Assessment, and they must use all equipment correctly. Additionally, some general tips about staying safe at home should be considered:
- Create a healthy morning routine.
- Stay active with regular stretching.
- Make the home office ergonomic and use all DSE/VDU equipment safely.
- Remember to leave the home and socialize with coworkers.
Training Requirements
To help employees adopt safe working practices, the eLearn Safety has developed a number of fully online courses. Some of these courses are:
- Cyber Bullying Awareness
- Cyber Security Awareness
- GDPR Training
- Mindfulness Practice
- VDU/DSE Office
- Workplace Safety – Level 1
- Workplace Stress Awareness
- and many more!
Online Health and Safety Training
Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.
Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.
This is why we have established eLearn Safety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.
eLearn Safety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.
To find out more, please check our Courses page.
Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie
Cyberbullying Awareness
Raising Cyberbullying Awareness is an important factor in preventing cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies.
What is Cyberbullying
The HSE defines cyberbullying as ‘[…] a form of bullying. It happens on social media, online forums, text and email.’
Cyberbullying usually involves offensive emails or text messages. These usually contain jokes or inappropriate wording towards a specific individual race, gender, nationality, or sexual preference. The words have a direct effect on the bullying target. Another example is an intended personal email response forwarded without permission for the whole office to see. However, most common examples of cyberbullying nowadays are:
- Abusive messages or slagging on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram.
- Offensive comments on videos or posts.
- Spreading rumours online.
- Hacking into your online accounts.
- Posting offensive or intimate images.
Raising Cyberbullying Awareness
By raising cyberbullying awareness we can learn to avoid cyberbullying.
For example, some precautionary steps are straightforward, such as never giving out your passwords to anyone, or picking your social friends carefully. Other steps get easily ignored or overlooked since unintentionally we can also be a source of cyberbullying. Always be polite to other people. Think about your words, what you are saying and whether it might be hurtful or embarrassing to other people and their loved ones. For example, think about some of the accidents recorded by someone on their phone and then shared online. It might be a ‘light accident’ such as someone tripping and falling, which might raise a few ‘innocent’ laughs. It might not be so amusing to the person who fell. In addition, think about some recent road fatalities which were recorded and shared online. In most cases, this is how the victim’s family found out about these accidents.
The internet does not forget, and it is often that these harmful comments, if made, will be available online for a long time, if not forever. Even if they are deleted, online posts can be screenshot and kept in circulation for a very long time.
Lastly, it is good practice, in personal and professional communication to not send any messages when you are chafed. With this in mind, wait until you have calmed down and had time to think.
With this in mind, eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Cyber Bullying Awareness course. This cyberbullying awareness course, developed in partnership with CyberSafeIreland, is suitable for any parent or adult who would like to know more about this area, and particularly does wondering what is the right thing to do if someone they know is either experiencing cyberbullying, or is the one cyberbullying.
What to do if You are Cyberbullied
Without a doubt, it is beneficial to raise cyberbullying awareness. However, we still might become a victim (or unintentional source) of cyberbullying. There are a number of things that you can do to deal with cyberbullying. Such as with any bullying, do not rise to take the bait. The bully will want to know that they’ve got you worried and upset. If you never reply, they will probably get bored and leave you alone. In addition, you can block people from phoning or sending texts. You can and should also report them. By reporting a cyberbully you could prevent a cyberbully from bullying other people. If the messages are extremely offensive and intend to cause harm, tell the Gardaí. It’s against the law to threaten people and the Gardaí can put a stop to it. They are there to keep you safe.
Online Health and Safety Training
Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.
Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.
This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.
Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.
To find out more, please check our Courses page.
Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie
Understanding People in the Workplace Environment
Understanding people in the workplace environment is essential if we are to achieve a safe workplace. In reality, accidents in the workplace are ‘people’ problems. At some point in any work-related situation, immediate or distant, people and decisions were involved. Undoubtedly, it is the task of modern safety management systems to recognise that fact. Consequently, the opportunities for mistakes and the harm that can arise when they are made should be minimised.
To err is human. We all make mistakes. Awareness of our limitations is needed before we can set up systems successfully which take those limitations into account and maximise safety efforts in any workplace.
Behavioural factors
Understanding behavioural factors, or as often referred to as ‘human factors’ are essential in understanding people in the workplace environment. These factors which may affect human performance include:
- Perceptual, mental and physical capabilities of people.
- Interaction of people with their organisations, jobs and working environment.
- Influence of equipment and systems design on human performance.
- Organisational characteristics which influence safety-related behaviour.
- Social and inherited characteristics of people.
Modern techniques of managing safety and health incorporate best practice within them so as to produce and influence a positive safety culture.
Promotion of a Positive Safety Culture
Promoting and fostering positive attitudes to safety and health can be done by:
- Effective communication. Passing information to and from, and regular consultation with the employees.
- Achieving a positive commitment to safety by senior management that is both real and visible.
- Maintaining good training standards.
- Maintaining good working environments with a high potential for safe working conditions to be achieved.
All these can be, and must be, found within organisations committed to a high standard of excellence in safety and health at work.
Maintaining Good Training Standards
Training for health and safety is not an end in itself, rather, it is a means to an end. With this in mind, a few conditions need to be present for any safety training to be successful:
- The active commitment, support and interest of management,
- Necessary finance and organisation to provide the opportunity for learning to take place, and
- The availability of suitable expertise in the subject.
eLearn Safety is a training organisation which provides high quality online, blended and face-to-face safety training courses. To this end, eLearn Safety program development and delivery is driven by customer service values where the learner is able to engage in the learning process however and wherever they want. In addition, all eLearn Safety staff are highly trained and receive ongoing CPD. A number of fully online Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety courses is available through eLearn Safety courses website page.
Safety is not just for the workplace. Safety is part of everyday life; from first aid to food safety, these skills improve the quality of life not only in the workplace but at home and in the community.
In addition to eLearn Safety courses, there is a number of available workplace safety information available online. For example, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) provides a wealth of information about the topic via their Workplace Health website page. Additionally, Citizens Information offers a number of relevant information via their website page Health and safety at work.
Understanding People in the Workplace Environment – Why does it Matter?
The main health and safety regulations in Ireland are the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and Safety, Health and welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. The Act 2005 applies to employers, employees and the self-employed. Indeed, this is done in the interest of securing a preventive approach to occupational health and safety. In addition, the GA Regulations 2007 outline the specific workplace safety matters.
Many specific pieces of health and safety legislation contain requirements to provide training for employees engaged in certain tasks. However, it should be noted that there is a general duty placed on employers to ensure that all employees are trained and provided with information, instruction and supervision as necessary to ensure their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
The support of management demonstrates the presence of the environment into which the trained person can return and exercise new skills and knowledge. The management team also demonstrates support by setting good examples. Workers are most likely to stop obeying safety rules if supervisors and managers are known to ignore them.
Online Health and Safety Training
Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.
Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.
This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.
Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.
To find out more, please check our Courses page.
Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie
Staying Safe Online
Staying Safe Online is becoming ever harder as internet scams become more and more sophisticated. It is an unfortunate reality that fraud is becoming more prevalent and more credible on the internet and in social media. The availability of AI tools has made fraudulent activity more sophisticated and agile. Scammers are using company logos, creating fake accounts, and copying websites to deceive individuals into believing they are communicating with legitimate brands. We feel it is important to share some of these damaging tactics with you.
Staying Safe Online through Vigilance
Fake websites and imposter social posts are all used to trick unsuspecting individuals into divulging personal information.
To protect yourself from these scams, we recommend following these best practices:
- Consider who you are sharing personal data with. Never share your personal or sensitive data with unknown sources. If you do, limit your sharing of personal data with government departments, public health officials, etc. This takes us to the second point:
- Verify the website. Always double-check the website URL to ensure it matches the official website. Scammers often create fake websites with URLs that closely resemble the legitimate site. Pay close attention for any misspellings or additional words in the URL. For example, is it a letter “o” or is it a number zero “0”. Whilst obvious difference when pointed out to, our brain can read jumbled letters without even noticing it (Yuo cna porbalby raed tihs esaliy desptie teh msispeillgns).
- Check for security features. Legitimate websites employ security features such as SSL certificates, which can be identified by a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. Ensure the website you are using has these security measures in place.
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails. Scammers may send fraudulent emails claiming to be a recognized brand. These emails often contain links or attachments that can infect your device when clicked or opened. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
- Verify social media accounts. Scammers may create fake social media accounts that resemble companies you deal with. Look for verification badges or other indications of authenticity, such as a high number of followers.
- Report suspicious activity: If you encounter any suspicious websites, emails, or social media accounts claiming a brand you deal with, please report them immediately to the legitimate company’s customer service team.
Protect Yourself
Scams and fraud attempts can be unsettling, but with awareness and following these best practices, Staying Safe Online can be achieved. Use CheckMyLink to verify the authenticity and safety of online shopping websites. It is managed by Cyber Skills, in partnership with ScamAdviser and An Garda Síochána. You can check that the website you are using is genuine and free from harmful software by providing the website URL (link).
In addition, it is very helpful to have up-to-date antivirus or online security software installed on all of your devices. Don’t forget that smartphones and tablets are just as in need of malware protection these days as laptops or desktops!
If you think that you have been a victim of fraud and your bank account has been used or compromised in any way you should report the matter immediately to your bank or financial institution to minimise any financial loss to you. In addition, you should report a suspected incident of fraud to An Garda Síochána.
Some additional information can be found on Citizens Information website and their page How to avoid scams.
To conclude:
- Always know who you are dealing with!
- Stay alert!
- Protect your personal information!
- Protect your money!
Online Health and Safety Training
Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.
Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.
This is why we have established Myelearnsafety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.
Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.
To find out more, please check our Courses page.
Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie
Occupational Health
Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of physical and mental wellbeing of all staff. Health problems directly related to a person’s job are defined as an occupational illness.
Some hazards, such as skin contact with chemicals causing short-term irritation and/or rashes are known as acute illnesses. For more information try our fully online Chemical Safety course. Chronic illnesses develop gradually and their effects may be irreversible, e.g. loss of hearing. Some may even appear years after the time of employment, e.g. asbestosis. For more information try our fully online Asbestos Awareness course.
Specific Health Hazards
- Physical damage from noise, heat and radiation, e.g. hand arm vibration syndrome by machine operators using vibrating machinery such as strimmers, soil compactors and drills. For more information try our fully online Workplace Safety course.
- Chemical problems from harmful dust, liquids and/or fumes, e.g. dermatitis causing severe irritation and cracking of the skin in occupations such as cleaners or hairdressers. For more information try our fully online Chemical Safety course.
- Ergonomic problems from poorly designed work areas, e.g. work-related upper limb disorders, back pain or repetitive strain suffered by keyboard operators and tool operators. For more information try our fully online VDU/DSE course and Manual Handling Awareness course.
- Biological hazards from infectious diseases and agents, e.g. hepatitis caused by needle stick injuries to hospital staff. For more information try our fully online Infection Prevention and Control course.
General Health Hazards
As well as specific health hazards there are some general things that may affect all workplaces:
Smoking
Smoking and passive smoking have been linked to lung cancer, irritation to the respiratory system and other harmful effects. The Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004 (No. 6 of 2004) placed a ban on smoking at all enclosed places of work from 29/03/04 to protect persons at work from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. This includes office blocks, aircraft, trains, company vehicles, health premises, schools, colleges, cinemas, theatres, licensed premises and clubs, if any of these places is your place of work. The smoking ban also applies to common areas within buildings. This means, for example, that corridors, lobby areas and reception areas of buildings such as apartment blocks and hotels are also covered. For more information, please consult Citizens Information service. In addition, try our fully online Workplace Safety course.
Alcohol
Alcohol increases the time it takes to react to situations, affects behaviour and reduces performance. For more information try our fully online Behavioral Safety course.
Drugs
Substance abuse may cause health problems and can cause safety hazards in the workplace. Many drugs are particularly dangerous because they cause mood changes and alter people’s perceptions. Even prescribed drugs may have a detrimental effect. As with alcohol, the condition must be addressed. For more information try our fully online Behavioral Safety course.
Violence
Verbal abuse, threats, bullying or assault can cause stress and concern as well as physical injury. Staff should be encouraged to report all occurrences to their supervisors who should record and objectively investigate the details and if necessary report to the relevant authority. For more information try our fully online Bullying Awareness course.
Stress
A large percentage of sick leave is due to stress, either due to personal reasons or the physical or emotional pressure of the job. Stomach and skin conditions, heart disease and depression have been linked to stress. Factors influencing stress in the workplace include poor working conditions, overwork, job insecurity, peer pressure including harassment, unrealistic targets and poor management.
Employees should be encouraged to report stress and management should be trained to recognise the symptoms and causes of stress such as inability or reduced ability to cope with normal tasks and situations, increased sick leave and/or poor time-keeping. For more information try our fully online Workplace Stress Awareness course.
It is very important to have an effective occupational health management system in place. There are sound economic reasons for reducing work-related accidents and ill-health, as well as ethical and regulatory reasons. Businesses that manage safety and health successfully invariably have a positive safety culture. Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.
For online Health and Safety training solutions, please check our Online Health and Safety Training portal.
Myelearnsafety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.
To find out more, please check our Courses page.
Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie
Cyber Security & Social Engineering: Phishing
How to Recognize Phishing Attacks
Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. They may try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful. A survey carried out by Censuswide, found that approximately 185,000 Irish people – have fallen victim to a phishing scam.
Scammers often update their tactics, but there are some signs that will help you recognize a phishing email or text message.
Phishing emails and text messages may look like they’re from a company you know or trust. They may look like they’re from a bank, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store.
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment.
They may:
- Say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
- Claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
- Say you must confirm some personal information
- Include a fake invoice
- Want you to click on a link to make a payment
- Say you’re eligible to register for a government refund
- Offer a coupon for free products
Here’s a real world example of a phishing email:
There are some obvious giveaways with the above email which tells us that this is a phishing attempt.
Once we hover over the ‘Click here to update your payment information’ link we can see that actual web address is a bogus one and not from Glivy. The multiple other email addresses in the address bar is another giveaway, as is the urgent nature of the email trying to prey on our insecurities. The recipient’s name is not added as a salutation, rather just ‘Glivy Subscriber’. All of these are warning signs telling us that this is an attempt at phishing and that this email should be instantly blocked.
These are some of the topics which are covered in our new Cybersecurity: Social Engineering course.
For any questions relating to cyber security training please contact Cormac on 01 278 1938.