Safety at work Archives

Asbestos Exposure at Work

Asbestos exposure at work is the primary cause of mesothelioma and asbestosis. Being around asbestos puts people at risk for several types of cancer and serious pulmonary diseases. While asbestos was widely used in construction until recently, some occupations have higher risks of exposure to asbestos in the workplace.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring mineral silicates. Asbestos is strong, inert, resilient and flexible and therefore almost indestructible. On paper, this material would appear as the ideal material. Indeed, until recently it was used in a wide range of products requiring heat resistance and insulation properties. However, today we know without doubt that asbestos is responsible for asbestos-related diseases such as cancers of the chest and lungs. These diseases will not occur immediately and can take from 15 – 60 years to develop.

There is no safe level of exposure to any form of asbestos! For additional information about asbestos in the workplace, please see eLearn Safety blog entry from 16th June 2023 titled Asbestos in the Workplace.

Why is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

Asbestos exposure is very dangerous. Asbestos produces its effects because of the size, strength, sharpness and rugged shape of the tiny fibers it releases. In addition, some of its chemical characteristics play a role. The health hazards arise when these small fibres become airborne and enter the body. The body’s natural defence mechanisms can reject large, visible dust particles and fibres. Unfortunately, small fibres reaching inner tissues are those that are both difficult to remove and the most damaging. They are particularly dangerous because they cannot be seen by the naked eye under normal circumstances. Furthermore, they are too small (less than 5 microns in length) to be trapped by conventional dust filter masks.

To learn some essential information about asbestos hazards, we recommend the eLearn Safety fully online Asbestos Awareness course. The aim of this course is to provide information on the identification and the prevention of occupational illness from exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.

Asbestos Exposure at Work

Asbestos exposure at work mostly refers to construction related activities. However, not only construction workers can become exposed to asbestos. In addition to construction workers, firefighters, industrial workers, power plant workers, shipyard workers and any other persons exposed to asbestos dust can become affected.

Asbestos found in construction work is usually encountered in the demolition or refurbishments processes. However, even simple jobs such as drilling partitions or removing ceiling tiles can disturb asbestos dust. It is important to be aware that asbestos can be found in composite materials such as concrete products and tiles. Asbestos was used as an additive in these products to provide strength, durability and flame resistance. Therefore, neither the colour nor the fibrous look of a substance is a reliable guide. The only reliable identification of the presence of the asbestos is by microscopic analysis in the laboratory. It is therefore safe to assume that any building built (or refurbished) in Ireland before the year 2000 might contain asbestos. A detailed survey will be required to identify where asbestos is present in your building. An asbestos survey must be carried out by a competent person.

The Law

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations, 2006 and 2010 are the key regulations relating to asbestos in the workplace. In simple terms, any work with asbestos insulation (for example, pipe/ thermal insulation), asbestos coatings (for example, ‘limpet’ spray coating) or asbestos insulating board must be carried out by competent specialist asbestos contractors. Any maintenance or repair work with asbestos insulation, spray coatings or asbestos insulating board should be restricted to specialist asbestos contractors. Specialised training is required for workers involved – see Section 9 of the HSA Guidance Document.

All asbestos removal or abatement work must be carried out by competent persons who have sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken. This must include practical training. An asbestos awareness course is not sufficient. The asbestos awareness course is a general asbestos awareness course recommended for anyone in the construction industry for general asbestos awareness.

Section 12 of the HSA Guidance Document provides advice on selection of a specialist asbestos contractor.

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

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Reasons for Promoting Workplace Safety

Reasons for promoting workplace safety are numerous. Poor workplace safety can have serious business costs, human costs and legal costs. In addition, the need to protect people from injury and disease while they are at work has a strong moral reasoning. Every year, accidents at work cost the Irish industry millions of euros. The effects of the injuries sustained vary from needing an extended period of time off work, never being able to work again, to sometimes unfortunately, injuries being fatal.

Four Main Reasons for Promoting Workplace Safety

There are many reasons why accident prevention in the workplace is worthwhile. For the purpose of this text we will discuss four:

The cost of human suffering. The physical and mental pain, and hardship in general resulting from death and disability is impossible to quantify. The disruption to lives of workers and their families it causes is far reaching with lasting consequences.
Moral reasons. Societal development raised public awareness about quality of life at work and its importance. Workers safety, once seen as unimportant or marginally important business activity is now expected by the society in general. The business is viewed by the public through its treatment of its employees. This might directly influence employee attraction and retention rates and business profitability or lack of one.
Legal reasons. The statute law details steps to be taken and objectives to be met in terms of workplace health and safety. Compliance is not optional – it is mandatory. Non compliance might result in serious legal prosecutions, or other enforcement actions. In addition, the civil law enables injured workers and others to gain compensation either as a result of breach of statutory duties or because a reasonable standard of care was not provided under the particular circumstances.
Financial reasons. To ensure the continuing financial health of a business and to avoid the costs associated with accidents, implementation of accident prevention is a must.

Health and Safety Legislation

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the statutory body in Ireland responsible for the enforcement of occupational health and safety law. The HSA reports directly to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Health and Safety legislation in Ireland is designed to secure and improve the Safety, Health and Welfare of people at work. Specifically, this is done by advocating a risk assessment approach to managing workplace safety. For additional information about risk assessments, please see eLearn Safety blog entry from 12th January 2024 titled Workplace Risk Assessment.

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.

Achieving Workplace Safety

There are many obstacles to the achievement of safe working conditions. Specifically, most common obstacles are the pressure of production or performance targets, financial constraints and the complexity of the organisations. Unfortunately, these obstacles are sometimes blatant disregard of basic health and safety regulations and poor health and safety management practices.

In difficult economic times, organisations need to reduce their costs. This often impacts on the management of health and safety. For example, training of workers in safe systems of work or plant equipment maintenance could be neglected. One way to keep staff informed about workplace safety is eLearn Safety fully online Workplace Safety – Level 1 course. This course is ideal for every employee in any workplace that’s subject to Health and Safety Legislation. In other words, safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. In particular, it provides all employees who participate on this course with information on how to identify hazards and carry out simple risk assessments.

Online Health and Safety Training

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

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Online Health and Safety Training and its Benefits

Online Health and Safety training offers a strong return on investment for employers and a quick way to get employees up to date with workplace safety. Online courses are also tailored to specific areas of workplace safety. They can ensure employees are getting the exact information they need to do their job safely. In this article, we take a closer look at the benefits of online training for workplace safety.

The Importance of Online Training for Workplace Safety

Studies show online education is growing by 5-10% each year as more and more employers move their training methods online. According to the Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO) there was a sharp increase in the use of education portals/websites during COVID-19 with over one fifth (21%) Communicating with instructors or students using educational websites/portals, an increase of seven percentage points in 2019. These numbers remain high even after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rise of digital technology in all areas of our lives this trend is far from declining.

Online Health and Safety training is a convenient way for staff to learn about their safety in the workplace. It removes many constraints which often hinder classroom training. This type of training is also very specific. It usually focuses on the precise lessons needed to stay safe in the workplace. From food handling and fire safety to workplace stress and working at heights, such online courses are always relevant to the workplace and ensure employers are abiding by certain laws and regulations.

Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of online training.

7 Key Benefits of Online Training for Workplace Safety

1. Online Training Draws from High Quality Resources

Online training usually draws inspiration from the best interactive experiences online and incorporate these learnings into an online course. As a result, online training can sometimes include video conferencing or webinars and other opportunities which enable staff to engage remotely. Simply put, this consistent high quality and extent of resources is rarely guaranteed in the classroom.

2. Learning Practical Skills for Real World Experience

Employees develop soft skills through online training and practical lessons which they can put into practice at work. These lessons often come from real experience which can feel more relevant than the theory which you might hear about in a classroom. Online courses also use simulations, scenarios and multiple choice questions to ensure these lessons are always relevant to real world scenarios. This also highlights the objective of online training – to give employee the exact education they need to know to do their job safely.

3. Employees Often Retain More through Online Training

Research shows how many employees are likely to forget what they learn in the classroom. It makes sense when you think back to school days and just how little algebra or poetry you might remember! Memory retention is boosted by relevant experiences which can be applied straight away. With this in mind, online training is often split into areas of knowledge and structured to increase relevancy. This increased relevancy means employees will more likely learn and recall the contents of an online course than they might in a classroom.

4. Online Courses Can Be Scheduled for Any Time/Place

Standard classroom training is always set at a specific time but co-ordinating this time is near impossible in such a fast-moving world. There is also a time loss for going to and from a classroom. Many employees are likely to feel restricted in a classroom environment. Online training can take place at any time and enables employees to undergo the training at their own pace. It’s a win-win situation for both employers and employees. In addition, it also removes the requirement for having a classroom to facilitate the training.

5. Immediate Access to Support and Resources

Online training provides immediate access to a large number of resources which allows them to find answers at the time of learning. Classroom training takes place in a specific location where employees are most often unable to access training resources in real time. This means employees don’t need to wait until the next class to ask questions and can address any immediate challenges or concerns before moving on with the training. Online training can use forums or social media groups to provide extra support and provide employees with a place whether they can share tips or ask questions.

6. Online Training is Designed for Different Learning Preferences

Every audience consists of different people with varying abilities and backgrounds. However, more recent generations have become accustomed to smart technology and the online world. These employees are also likely to have acquired skills through Google, YouTube and apps in the past and appreciate this method of learning. This is why the rate of attention and engagement with online training is often said to be higher than a classroom. Online training is designed to cater to all learning preferences.

7. High Levels of Engagement and Responsibility

Some online training courses are gamified which means they feature levels, rewards and certain mechanics which encourage progress. These courses seek to encourage the learner to progress and keep going until they complete each lesson. They can also monitor performance along the way and feel more invested or responsible for participating in the course. It is this high engagement which should be attractive to employers and the fact they can outsource this time consuming process to a trusted online training platform.

Working with a training company

Working with an online training platform can help employers lighten the load and allow the experts to take care of the training. However, it’s important to choose a platform which abides by laws and regulations and incorporates these requirements into the online training. For instance, MyElearnSafety offer courses online health and safety training for Food Safety which adhere to the principles of the internationally recognised Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). It also offers Fire Safety Awareness, Manual Handling Awareness, Paediatric First Aid just to name a few.

Check out MyElearnSafety today and we can get everyone up to speed on their workplace safety!

eLearn Online Health and Safety Training

Ergonomics in the Workplace

Ergonomics is the study of working interactions between humans and machines/workstations and the factors that affect those interactions. Stemming from the Greek words ‘ergo’ & ‘nomus’ (workflow) it is in simple terms ‘fitting’ the job to the person as opposed to fitting the person to the job.

Origins of the Ergonomics

Ergonomic practitioners draw upon a number of different disciplines. Some of these are ‘biomechanics’ (the study of human movement and the associated laws) and ‘anthropometry’ (the study of human measurements). These disciplines assist ergonomic practitioners in identifying ergonomic risk factors.

Importance of Ergonomics in the Workplace

Failure to apply the principles of ergonomics within the workplace i.e., a busy office environment or warehouse can result in chronic or acute musculoskeletal injuries. If left unchecked can result in functional limitations. Employees working in such environments are also susceptible to RSI ‘repetitive strain injuries’ and WRULD ‘work related upper limb disorders’.

When designing workstations ergonomic considerations are of significant importance. An ergonomic risk assessment can help to identify issues with existing workstations. However prior to conducting a risk assessment a task analysis should be conducted. A task analysis is conducted in order to get an appreciation of an employee’s daily routine. A task analysis will highlight current or potential issues for the employee, time spent at the work station, breaks, and shift work. All these should all be taken into consideration. In addition, biomechanics and anthropometrics will also play a part at this point.

Ergonomic Tools

Ergonomic practitioners can utilize a number of tools in order to assist them in rating the risks accordingly:

Rapid employee body assessment (REBA) tool.
Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) tool.
Assessment of repetitive tasks (ART) tool.

In addition, eLearn Safety offers a full online VDU/DSE course. This course is fully online and can be taken 24/7. On completion of this VDU training course, participants will be provided with the information necessary to ensure current legislation is complied, risk assessments are carried out and all employees are competent to adjust their work stations to provide a safe place to work in.

Furthermore, a task analysis will help to identify if an employer is compliant with current legislation under the SHWW Act 2005. An office employees’ display screen is in essence a visual display unit. Therefore an employer must adhere to the guidance document within the general application regulations pertaining to VDU’s and display screen equipment.

Ergonomics in the Workplace Recommendations

Where office workers should be afforded the option to conduct his/her work both in the seated and standing position, employers must ensure chairs and VDU’s have the ability to be adjusted to suit all employees and consider frequent breaks and job rotation where practicable. Employers should also promote good working practices. For example, encouraging staff to make recommendations based on their working environments. If working in a warehouse or on a manufacturing line, workers should use appropriate equipment. A proper equipment will aid them in their jobs. Some of the examples are foot stools, foot rests, anti-glare eye protection, etc.

Employers should always be cognizant of the fact that ‘one shoe does not fit all’ when it comes to ergonomic assessments. For example a tall employee may feel cramped in a small area whereas a short employee may be uncomfortable if constantly reaching for items or if their feet are not supported when sitting.

Thus, structuring the working environment in order to suit the user is a step away from Taylors’ method of ‘scientific management’. Such a method, regardless of body shape and size or indeed the work being undertaken, was standardized across the board and the worker had to adapt him/herself to the factory conditions or face the prospect of dismissal and future injuries as a result.

Ergonomics Assessments

Ergonomic assessments are not difficult to undertake, and when carried out effectively can help to reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries and pain. In turn, this will help to motivate employees, allowing them to be more productive and happier in the working environment. Employers should always be aware of their responsibilities to their employees under the SHAWW Act and take the necessary steps to create risk free working environments where possible. Employees must also be aware of their rights and support any safety initiatives the employer wishes to implement, as the saying goes, ‘the rising tide floats every boat’.

Online Health and Safety Training

This is why we have established Myelearsafety 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

Equipment in the Workplace

Equipment in the workplace can be a cause for a serious accident. Unfortunately some of these accidents can be fatal. According to the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) work equipment can be described as ‘any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work‘. This description is very broad and it demonstrates that the scope of work equipment is very extensive.

eLearn Safety offers a list of relevant courses that look into equipment in the workplace and its use. A solid starting course is Workplace Safety – Level 1. This course is ideal for every employee in any workplace that’s subject to Health and Safety Legislation. Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. It provides all employees who participate on this course with information on how to identify hazards and carry out simple risk assessments.

Workplace Safety – Level 1

Equipment in the Workplace and the Law

The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 sets out the requirements with regard to equipment in the workplace. It is impossible to list all the equipment that might be used in a workplace setting, but it generally includes the following:

Plant – large fixed or mobile equipment such diggers, forklift trucks, tractors, cranes, etc.
Machinery – seemingly harmless equipment such as printer machines, cookers, but also meat slicers, band saws, circular saws, etc.
Tools – simple tools such as screwdrivers, knives, pliers, etc.

Employer and Employee Duties in Regard to Equipment in the Workplace

Both employers and employees have a number of duties under the 2005 Act in terms of equipment in the workplace. For a more comprehensive list of employer and employee duties please see HSA page titled Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. In broad terms we can describe duties as follows:

Employers – have the responsibility to provide and maintain suitable and safe equipment in the workplace. An employer is also responsible for providing training and information on risks and precautions associated with use of the equipment in the workplace.
Employees – have the responsibility to select the suitable machine/tool for the work to be undertaken, make sure they are trained in its use and operate the machine/tool according to the safe working procedures.

Main Dangers arising from the Equipment in the Workplace

Some of the dangers of the equipment in the workplace are:

Traps and Entrapment – Moving equipment, such as presses and hydraulic jacks can trap body parts.
Contact – Abrasions, bruising or friction burns can occur when people accidentally come into contact with moving parts.
Impact – Moving parts may hit operators or the public if unguarded or badly sited.
Ejection – Some unguarded equipment, e.g. drills and saws, may throw off bits of metal or wood.
Entanglement – Moving machinery such as rollers, cogs and conveyors that can entangle hair, jewellery and clothes, even pulling whole bodies into machinery.

Controls

There are a number of controls that can be used to minimise dangers associated with the use of the equipment in the workplace. For additional information about Hierarchy of Controls, please see eLearn Safety blog entry from 24th February 2023 titled Workplace Hazards.

Guarding is often used as a method of controlling the risks associated with moving parts and machinery. Some guards act as a permanent barrier to prevent people from gaining access to a dangerous area. Other moveable types will prevent the machine from operating unless the guard is in place. It is important that guards and other safety features, such as emergency stop buttons and alarms are working correctly. If they are not, the machinery should not be used.

When selecting equipment in the workplace, it is important to choose the safest possible option for a work activity. All equipment must be CE marked and suitable for the task to be used for.

Some general rules for using any workplace equipment apply:

Select the right equipment for the right job.
Make sure the equipment is maintained and in good condition.
Report broke, damaged or worn equipment to a supervisor.
Only use equipment you have been trained to use.
Use all equipment correctly.
All equipment should be stored correctly after use.

All equipment in the workplace must be well maintained to ensure it is in safe working order. The maintenance should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions by a competent person.

Equipment is only as safe as the person using it!

Online Health and Safety Training

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

Dangers of Vibration at Work

Use of plant and equipment that produces vibration is often not considered as a serious risk and dangers of vibration at work are often overlooked.

Vibration is the transmission of force from work processes into the worker. The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) defines vibrations as ‘rapid movement to and fro or oscillating movement‘.

Examples of Vibration at Work

People in the course of their work life may be exposed to many sources of vibration. Dangers of vibration at work are more often overlooked than not. Some vibration affects the whole body (WBV), e.g. when driving a dumper truck over rough and even ground. Here the vibration, in the form of large shocks or jolts, is transmitted to the whole body via their feet or the seat. This could cause injury to the lower back and spine.

The most common problem is Hand Arm Vibration (HAV). HAV is caused by exposure to vibration, e.g. from using hand power tools. This can be very disabling, causing severe pain in hands and arms and lack of hand movement and feeling in the fingers. It is preventable but permanent once the damage is done.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – HAV Symptoms

The most common HAV symptoms to look for are:

Tingling in the fingers.
Loss of feeling and sensation in the fingers.
Reduced strength in the hand.
Fingers that go white in the cold and then red and painful on recovery.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – HAV Controls

Dangers of vibration at work, i.e. risk from vibrating tools or machines can be minimised by:

Introducing methods that eliminate, substitute or reduce the exposure to vibration.
Avoiding prolonged or frequent use of vibrating equipment.
Keeping cutting tools sharp so they remain efficient.
Making sure equipment is well maintained.
Avoiding forcing or gripping the tool more than is necessary.
Wearing gloves to protect the hands.
Exercising and massaging the fingers during breaks to restore circulation.

Health surveillance is crucial to spot and respond to early signs of damage.

Dangers of Vibration at Work – Further Reading

Chapter 2 of Part 5 and Schedule 6 to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007) as amended by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amended) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 732 of 2007) sets down the minimum requirements for the protection of workers from the health risks associated with vibration in the workplace. This is a legislation that looks into dangers of vibration at work.

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) on their webpage Vibration at Work provide relevant to vibration at work information.

Online Health and Safety Training

This is why we have established Myelearsafety 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

Working at Height

Working at height and falling from height is one of the biggest causes of death in the workplace and one of the main causes of major injury. Such injuries do not necessarily involve falls from very high scaffolding. They can be caused by any fall above or even below ground level such as an access ladder to an inspection chamber or sewer.

Working at Height Hazards

There are many hazards associated with working at height. The most common hazards include:

Using stepladders or unsuitable alternatives such as chairs or climbing on racking.
Working on scaffolding and other access equipment with inadequate fall arrest controls.
Falling through fragile roofs or skylights.
Objects such as tools falling from height and injuring those below.

Preventing Working at Height Accidents

Preventing working at height accidents is important on many levels. It can avoid costly legal costs but more importantly it can prevent human suffering and in the worst case scenario – human fatality. Preventing accidents is everyone’s duty, from employer to employee. Accidents most often occur:

People taking shortcuts and not using the correct equipment.
Equipment is not available or in poor repair.
Complacency, perhaps over-familiarity with the job.
Lack of awareness of the risks of working at height.
Inadequate training and supervision.

Managing and Selecting Equipment for Working at Height

There are a few simple – but important steps:

Carry out a risk assessment of tasks that are at height. Include in the risk assessment any fragile surfaces that might break if someone worked on it or fell onto it, e.g. fibre and asbestos cement roof sheets and skylights.
If at all possible, avoid working at height and consider if the task can be done in another way, for example using a sponge on an extendable pole to clean windows instead of climbing a ladder.
If working at height cannot be avoided, use equipment or other measures to prevent falls, e.g. guard rails, work platforms, podium steps, tower scaffolds, cherry pickers or scissor lifts.
When the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, use equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall, e.g. harnesses, netting and airbags.
Avoid working on, near, or passing across, fragile surfaces, e.g. repair skylights form underneath or provide fixed walkways with guard rails.

Additional measures to reduce the risk of a fall when using equipment for working at height include making sure:

The people have been trained to use it safely.
It is well maintained and regularly inspected.
There is adequate supervision to ensure people are working safely.

Working at Height – Ladders

Ladders are working at height equipment. Ladders may be suitable for light tasks of short duration, but suitable alternatives should be first considered. If ladders have been selected there are a few basic points to remember:

Always check ladders for damage before use.
Set them at the correct angle. The angle should be about 75° or the 1 in 4 rule, i.e., 1 unit out for every 4 units up. If they are at too steep an angle, the ladder could topple backwards and if too shallow an angle, it might slide down the wall.
The ladders must be secure. The ladders should be on firm, level, non-slippery ground. Ladders should not be leaned against plastic guttering. Ladders should always lean against a firm and resistant resting point.
Always grip the ladder and face the rungs when climbing. Try to avoid holding items when climbing but if you do need to carry something, have one free to grip the ladder.
Do not overreach. Keep your belt buckle within the stiles.
Keep both feet on the same rung throughout the task and don’t use the top 3 rungs of the ladder as this prevents a handhold.

Available Resources

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) has published a number of useful resources in relation to Working at Height. Some of these are:

Online Health and Safety Training

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

Workplace Transport and Vehicles

Almost all businesses use some form of workplace transport and vehicles. There are many examples. A busy factory site with lorries being loaded for despatch. Forklift trucks whizzing around the site. Staff arriving for work in cars. Visitors and staff walking around the site and delivery vehicles reversing into dock loading bays.

Without controls aimed at workplace transport and vehicles, there is a high likelihood of an accident occurring. Unfortunately, almost every year a number of people are killed in vehicle accidents at the workplace.

Risk Assessment – Workplace Transport and Vehicles

A risk assessment must be carried out to identify the hazards and implement controls to minimise the risk. Such controls may include:

Clearly marking segregated traffic routes separating pedestrians from vehicles. This would be ideally done with physical barriers.
Making sure route ways are sufficiently wide for the vehicle, for example aisles between warehouse racking should be wide enough for a forklift truck to move easily and manoeuvre with loads.
Avoidance of obstructions in traffic routes by enforcing good housekeeping.
Sufficient lighting, both externally and internally, to enable drivers to identify obstructions, other vehicles and pedestrians.
Keeping traffic routes in good repair so uneven surfaces, holes, etc. do not cause vehicle damage or accidents.
Speed limits that are displayed and enforced as well as signage to alert drivers to other hazards such as low headroom, or overhead cables.
Designing traffic routes to avoid blind bends and where visibility is restricted, mirrors or implementing one-way systems should be considered.

Common Causes of Accidents

When we talk about workplace transport and vehicles, one of the most common vehicles used in the workplace is a forklift truck. They account for many of all workplace transport accidents.

Common causes of accidents are:

Driving too fast.
Unbalanced loads.
Horseplay.
Reversing.

Reversing of workplace transport and vehicles is a frequent cause of accidents. Consideration should be given to ensure adequate space for reversing vehicles and restricting access to the reversing area. This area should be clearly marked and signed.

Visiting drivers should be made aware of the site layout and transport routes. It may be necessary to provide instructions in other languages for foreign drivers and allow for the fact they may have different visibility from left hand drive vehicles.

Maintaining Safe Workplace and Transport Vehicles

There are many different types of workplace and transport vehicles that can be used. A proper selection will depend on the task to be performed. It is very important that the correct vehicle is selected for the appropriate task and that the vehicle is safe to use. As well as regular routine maintenance, there are some basic pre-use checks drivers should make. These include:

Horn.
Lights.
Brakes.
Tyres.
Oil Spillages.
Seat and Seat Belt.
Any Obvious Signs of Vehicle Damage.

Whichever vehicle is being driven, the driver must be trained and competent. Safe system of work should be in place to make sure unauthorised staff cannot operate vehicles and there are sufficient work breaks to stop drivers becoming overtired.

Safety Management Resources for workplace and Transport Vehicles

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland provides a comprehensive key transport safety management resources available on their website page titled Vehicles at Work. The resources are a convenient and easy to use information portal. In addition, the HSA has published a convenient Information Sheet that provides basic guidance on the management of vehicles and mobile work equipment in the workplace.

Online Health and Safety Training

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

True Cost of Poor Workplace Safety

True cost of poor workplace safety can be significant and very harmful to everyone interacting with the business with poorly managed Health and Safety. It can be a reason for significant business costs. More importantly, it can have distressing human costs.

Implementing and managing Health and Safety procedures in the workplace is not an optional addon to regular business activity. It is a legal requirement. It is also a moral and ethical obligation. Excuses, such as ‘health and safety is not necessary in our case’, ‘it’s just bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork’ and ‘we don’t need it – we know what we are doing’ are not acceptable. All workplaces should strive to achieve a workplace which is a safe workplace as much as it is feasible. All work related injuries should be brought as close to zero as possible.

It is sometimes that employees themselves approach Health and Safety procedures lightly. Even if warned about dangers, they might abandon correct Health and Safety procedures to ‘speed up’ or avoid doing ‘extra work’. This is often guided by the misconception that they will be able ‘to see’ if anything dangerous starts developing and adjust themselves to avoid disaster’ – which is almost never true. In fact, danger started to develop the moment Health and Safety policies were ignored.

The Ultimate Price of Poor Workplace Safety

There is no such a thing as ‘light’ work-related injury. All injuries can take a heavy toll to everyone involved. Unfortunately, some injuries could be fatal. Sadly, this is the ultimate true cost of poor workplace safety.

In 2022 there were 26 workplace related fatalities in Ireland. 26 people left their home, their families never to return home. You can read more about Workplace Fatalities from 2017 to 2022 in our blog entry from 30th June 2023 Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Workplace accidents and their prevention are key priorities of anyone at work. This is not only true for employers but employees as well. You can read more about Workplace Accidents and Their Prevention in our blog entry Health and Safety in the Workplace from 21st April 2023.

From the PRESS

The following contains few of countless examples that demonstrate true cost of poor workplace safety:

Man, 20s, dies in Carlow road tragedy after reportedly falling from truck

A man in his 20s has died following a road traffic accident in Carlow when he reportedly fell from a truck.

The tragic incident took place in the College Green area of Carlow town on 16th August 2023 at 1:30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the man’s death to determine the exact cause.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told The Irish Mirror: “It’s reported that a male in his 20s received fatal injuries after falling from a truck during the course of his work.

Taken from The Independent.

Male worker, 26, dies after suffering ‘severe head injuries’ in ‘heavy machinery incident’ at construction site of Everton’s new stadium – the football club says everyone is ‘heartbroken’ by the death as investigation is launched (UK)

A 26-year-old construction worker has died after suffering ‘severe head injuries’ in an incident at site of Everton’s new stadium.

First responders were called to the site at Bramley Moore Dock around 12.32pm on 14th August 2023 following a ‘major incident’ that allegedly involved heavy machinery.

The worker was rushed to hospital but despite medics’ best efforts, he died.

Construction company Laing O’Rourke confirmed to MailOnline the man was carrying out work at the time of his death as Everton FC described the news as ‘heartbreaking’.

Investigators with Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remain at the scene as they ‘continue with the early stages of the investigation’.

Workers from the site at Bramley Moore Dock said they were informed of the incident and then asked to leave the area, but couldn’t share more details, The Liverpool Echo reported.

Local reports indicate the incident involved heavy machinery and the 26-year-old suffered head injuries.

Taken from The Guardian.

Farm Safety Week 2020 – Elizabeth’s story

Elizabeth Ormiston, a beef farmer from Co. Cavan suffered a farm accident in 2009 that resulted in her being placed in an induced coma. This is her story.

Farm Safety Week 2020 – Elizabeth’s story (YouTube Link). Run time 2m 19s.

Managing Health and Safety in the Workplace

The role of the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) has an important role as they ensure that over 2 million workers (employed and self-employed) and those affected by work activity are protected from work related injury and ill-health. The Health and Safety Authority strategic priorities are to:

Regulate: Increase focus on compliance through risk based inspection and enforcement.
Promote: Support, educate and raise awareness to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health.
Accredit: Grow the national accreditation service to enable and support enterprises and public services.
Influence: Partner and collaborate in support of healthy, safe and productive lives and enterprises.

All workplaces, from one-person farms to multinationals with thousands of employees must implement Health and Safety procedures guided by legislation and best work practices.

The HSA exists to assist and support achieving a safe workplace. This support is available to employers and employees equally.

Don’t Become a Statistic!

Online Health and Safety Training

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