Manual Handling Awareness

Manual handling awareness is just part of a range of preventative measures that should be taken to prevent injuries at work. To understand this, we have to define Manual handling. Manual handling is any activity that includes lifting or putting down, pulling or pushing, carrying, supporting or moving an object, person or animal using the hand or any other part of the body. Many people wrongly assume that manual handling only applies when items are lifted. However, this is not fully true, as manual handling could be any movement of an object.

 

Common Injuries due to poor Manual Handling Awareness

The purpose of Manual Handling Training and raising awareness of proper manual handling techniques is to prevent workplace injuries. The most common causes of manual handling injuries are:

• Poor posture.
• Heavy lifting or using excessive force.
• Excessive repetition of a task.
• Lack of time to recover from a task.
• Twisting and stopping activities.
• Pushing or pulling loads over a prolonged distance.
• Reaching or lifting away from the body.
• Standing or sitting in a static position without regular changes in posture.
• Person’s own susceptibility to injury.

About a third of all workplace accidents reported are as a direct result of manual handling, lifting and carrying.

 

Business Costs of Manual Handling Injuries

Manual handling injuries resulting from poor manual handling awareness can have a serious effect on both, employers and employees. For example, the following might count as business costs:

• Legal advice and insurance costs.
• Legal action, possibly including compensations.
• Sick pay.
• Lost production and sales.
• Equipment and stock losses or damages.
• Time and money spent on investigation and improvements.
• Recruitment and payment of cover/replacement staff.

 

Human Costs of Manual Handling Injuries

When compared to human costs, business costs are insignificant. The human costs are usually long term and significant. For example:

• Pain and suffering.
• Disability, possibly long-term.
• Health care and rehabilitation.
• Loss of earnings.
• Emotional and financial burden on family.
• Potential loss of life.

 

Reducing the Risks and promoting Manual Handling Awareness

Employers are required by law to assess manual handling tasks with the aim of avoiding or reducing risks. Trained employees have a legal duty to follow safe working practices and use the correct techniques they have been shown.

As previously mentioned, human and business costs that manual handling injuries cause can be significant. Therefore, avoidance of injury in the first place should be the main focus. In other words, avoidance of injury is to everyone’s advantage. To that end, when we talk about manual handling, both employer and employee must consider:

• The Hazard – Things that have potential to do harm.
• The Risk – The likelihood of the hazard actually doing harm.
• Control Measures – Actions or procedures put into place to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

 

Manual Handling Awareness Training

Manual handling training for employees, is part of a range of preventative measures that should be taken to prevent injuries at work. This is why eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Manual Handling Awareness course. This course can stand alone and can be used as a regular refresher on manual handling theory. In addition, it can be part of a blended manual handling training. In that case, following completion of the theory online, each participant will have to complete the practical session which consists of:

• Practical scenarios.
• Kinetic principles.
• Written assessment based on all of the course content.

This blended learning training course has been designed by qualified tutors to assist the employer to comply with current legislation. In addition, it will inform and educate an employee how to prevent injuries by teaching them good manual handling techniques.

In addition, the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) offers a significant amount of resources in relation to Manual Handling via their Workplace Health section of their website.

 

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

Abrasive Wheel Awareness

Abrasive wheels awareness is an extremely important aspect of an overall employee’s health and safety – where the employee is to use such tools. The abrasive wheel, if not properly used or maintained, is an extremely dangerous tool. The periphery of an abrasive wheel usually travels at a speed faster than a mile a minute. If a wheel should be broken while travelling at that speed, serious personal injury or damage to machinery or equipment might result. Unfortunately, serious injuries or fatalities are possible.

 

What is an Abrasive Wheel?

According to the Part 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (Regulations), an abrasive wheel can be:

• wheel, cylinder, disc or cone which, whether or not any other material is comprised in it, consists of abrasive particles held together by mineral, metallic or organic bonds, whether natural or artificial,
• a mounted wheel or point and a wheel or disc having (in either case) separate segments of abrasive material,
• a wheel or disc made (in either case) of metal, wood, cloth, felt, rubber or paper and having any surface consisting wholly or partly of abrasive material, or
• a wheel, disc or saw, to any surface of which is attached a rim or segments consisting of diamond abrasive particles,
• which is, or is intended to be, power-driven, and is for use in any grinding or cutting operations.

 

Causes of Abrasive Wheel Accidents

Unfortunately, injuries or damage caused by use of abrasive wheels are in most cases not accidents at all. They are usually a result of carelessness or lack of knowledge in use of the tool. The most common causes are:

• Using the wrong tool, or wheel for the job.
• Careless handling, such as holding the tool and the material improperly, removing the guards, etc.
• Improper mounting.
• Incorrect speed of the disk and the tool.
• Too much pressure applied.

The main dangers to an operator arise from pieces of the wheel or workpiece coming away, workers coming into contact with the wheel, and workers trapping their fingers between the wheel and the work rest.

 

Importance of Abrasive Wheel Awareness Training

Abrasive wheel awareness training is extremely important since the number of accidents and the circumstances in which they happen show that most can be avoided if workers know the risks and follow safety measures. The simple safety steps given below will help to prevent most accidents at grinding machines:

Step 1 – Inspection

When you receive a wheel, you should carefully inspect it, clean it with a soft brush and examine it for damage. In addition, you should carry out a ‘ring’ test as part of the examination. The ‘ring’ involves tapping the wheel with a non-metallic tool such as a screwdriver handle. If the wheel is safe to use a clear ring will be heard. But if the ring is ‘dead’ the wheel is cracked and you should not use it.

Step 2 – Storage

You should store wheels in a cool, dry area. Equally important is to provide suitable racks or bins and take precautions to prevent the wheels rolling or falling over.

Step 3 – Grinding Machines

All machines must be stable. Machines on benches should be bolted to the bench or securely fastened in some other way. A notice should be displayed on the machine showing the maximum speed of its spindle within each of its operating speeds. The operator should know how to start and stop the machine safely.

Step 4 – Choosing Wheels

The wheel must be suitable for the jobs in which it will be used. In general, soft wheels should be used on hard materials and hard wheels on soft materials. You should ask manufacturers for advice on which wheels to use. You should consider the following things when choosing the wheel:

• The type of machine on which it will be fitted.
• The speed of the machine or spindle – this must never be more than the maximum speed of the wheel.
• The material to be used on the machine.
• The finish needed.
• The area of contact between the workpiece and the wheel.

Step 5 – Mounting the Wheel

The wheel must be mounted by someone who has been properly trained and appointed by their employer to do the work. The employer must keep a register of people who have been appointed to do this work. Abrasive wheels should only be mounted on the type of machine for which they were designed. It is essential that the speed of the spindle is not more than the maximum speed marked on the wheel.

Step 6 – Guarding

The wheel should be guarded so that only the area of the wheel needed for the work to be done is exposed. Guards should be fitted to contain the wheel parts if the wheel bursts and to prevent, as far as possible, the operator from coming into contact with the wheel.

Step 7 – Using Abrasive Wheels

Operators must be properly trained. In addition, operators should not wear loose clothing such as ties or jewellery. These items could become caught between the wheel and the workpiece. Furthermore, they should tie long hair back out of the way. Guards should always be in place. Equally important, eye protection should be worn for all dry grinding work, or transparent screens should be fitted to fixed machines to protect against sparks and particles. In addition, the floor space around the machine should be kept free of obstructions and slippery substances.

Obviously, the machine should only be used by one person at a time. It should be switched off always when not in use. To prevent the workpiece jamming between the work rest and the wheel, the work rest should be positioned as close as possible to the face of the wheel. It should be adjusted as the wheel wears. Lastly, the operator should hold the workpiece firmly and move it across the face of the wheel so that the wheel wears evenly. Clamps or similar devices can be used for small jobs.

 

Abrasive Wheels Awareness Training

The formal training in the safe use of abrasive wheels is required by law. There are no exemptions to this requirement. All personnel using any form of abrasive wheels must be trained in its proper use.

The Abrasive Wheels Awareness course developed by eLearn Safety is designed to supplement and provide additional training but not to replace formal training. It is the online part of a blended training program and students must also complete a practical session in order to be competent operators. Under the current legislation an employer must not allow any person to operate the wheel unless they are trained and competent to mount the wheel.

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA) provides a wealth of relevant information via their website.

 

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

Plant and Equipment Safety

Plant and equipment safety is an important factor to consider in ensuring overall workplace safety. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide and maintain suitable safe equipment. In addition, an employer is also responsible for providing training and information on risks and precautions. However, it is the employee’s responsibility to select the correct machine for the work to be undertaken. Employees must ensure to use only the equipment they are trained in its use.

 

Plant and Equipment Safety – Main Dangers

When we talk about plant and equipment safety, we must consider and address main dangers associated with its use:

• Traps (Entrapment) – Moving equipment that can trap body parts, such as presses and hydraulic jacks.
• 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.

 

Guards and Safety Features

Guarding is often used as a method of controlling the risks associated with moving parts and machinery. For example, 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. Furthermore, 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 must not be used.

 

Plant and Equipment Safety – Hand Tools

There are some basic rules to consider to ensure safe use of tools:

• Select the right tool for the right job.
• Make sure the tool is maintained and in good condition.
• Report broken or worn tools to a supervisor.
• Only use tools you have been trained to use.
• Use the tools correctly.
• Store correctly after use.

 

Plant and Equipment Safety – Machinery

Similarly, there are some basic rules to consider to ensure safe use of machinery:

• Guards – Never attempt to remove or defeat machinery guards. Many guards operate on a ‘failure to safety’ system. For example, if the guard is not in place the machine will not work.
• Power – Always turn off machines and power when not in use. Turn off and unplug for cleaning and maintenance.
• Lighting – Use effective lighting to enable the machine to be used safely.
• Housekeeping – Keep the workplace clean. Untidy areas around machinery can cause falls and provide fuel for fires.
• Repairs – Report any faults or suspected faults immediately, including missing guards or safety equipment.
• Clothing – Do not wear loose clothing around machinery. No ties, belts, straps or jewellery. Wear suitable personal protective clothing or equipment. Keep longhair tied up or covered if using machinery.
• Training – Do not use equipment unless trained to do so.
• Responsibility – Wear any protective equipment deemed necessary by risk assessment. Never distract colleagues who are using machinery or other equipment.

 

Ensuring Equipment Safety

When selecting equipment it is important to choose the safest possible option for any work activity. Whether selecting or purchasing you must:

• Ask technical questions and compare the information provided by suppliers.
• Check that the equipment has a CE mark.
• Satisfy yourself that you have obtained all the relevant safety information.
• Make sure sufficient, relevant training is given.
• Undertake a risk assessment before any equipment is installed or used.

Equipment must be well maintained to make sure it is in safe working order. Likewise, the maintenance should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions by a competent person. The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland provides a wealth of information on Plant and Machinery via their Construction Section of the website.

 

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

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

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace is having a culture that values uniqueness: people of different backgrounds, cultures, genders, and races. Inclusion means inviting diverse groups to take part in company life.

 

Research into Ireland’s Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

First-of-a-kind Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) benchmarking for the Irish market has been launched by the Irish Centre for Diversity (ICFD).  It draws from the most comprehensive research into D&I in the Irish market. It involved almost 100 organisations that employ 60,000+ people across both the public and private sectors. Organisations will now be able to compare their D&I performance both at a national level, and against those in similar areas such as Public Sector, Professional Services, Construction and Engineering, Insurance and Finance.

According to the ICFD, data from the research showed that 90% of workers in Ireland felt respected by their colleagues. However, 2 out of 5 employees do not feel their organisation advances equality of opportunity. Furthermore, just 51% of employees believe their organisation neglects diverse groups. In addition, 33% – a third of employees feel that their organisations do not treat everyone fairly.

 

Why are Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Important?

There is a significant body or research that outlines clear correlation between diversity and performance. This is because diversity, inclusion and feeling of belonging are interconnected. It is in combination that their true impact emerges. However, it is not only about ‘performance’ and business ‘achievements’. It is also very much about already mentioned – belonging. Belonging is the third critical piece to Diversity and Inclusion. It’s belonging that makes each individual feel accepted for who they are. It is the thing that – a feeling, that will drive personal motivation and satisfaction. It will also ensure keeping the workplace mentally (and possibly physically) healthy.

 

How can we Foster Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace?

We can foster diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace by:

• Ensuring that diverse talent is well represented.
• Strengthening leadership accountability and capabilities.
• Be fair and transparent, enabling equality of opportunity.
• Promoting openness and tackling microaggressions, bias, and discrimination.
• Fostering belonging through unequivocal support for all the ways diversity manifests.

In addition, you can explore the diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIB) approach by completing eLearn Safety fully-online Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging course. In this course, topics such as creating a culture of diversity and belonging and avoiding bias are covered.

 

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

Women in Construction

Women in construction are underrepresented and most frequently found on construction sites in the fields of administrative and technical positions, such as architecture and civil engineering.

According to the CSO, women make up only 5.5% of the workforce in all construction-related sectors in Ireland (compared to 10% EU average).

According to the Construction Industry Federation’s Member Diversity Survey, “without female talent, the industry’s efforts to deliver critical Government housing and infrastructure strategies such as Rebuilding Ireland, the National Development Plan, and the National Planning Framework may fall short.” We must all do more to actively support women in the industry and encourage young women to pursue careers in construction.

 

Benefits of Gender Diversity in the Irish Construction Industry

Despite the low numbers of women in construction, there is evidence to suggest that women participation can bring many benefits to the construction industry. In addition, research has shown that gender diversity leads to improved decision-making, increased creativity, and enhanced innovation.

As a matter of fact, companies with greater gender balance are also more likely to outperform those that lack diversity. In other words, making the case for increased female representation in construction becomes more compelling.

Despite the fact that the construction sector is traditionally known as a male-dominated industry, the low number of women working in construction can be attributed to a number of factors, including:

• a lack of awareness of the opportunities available in the sector,
• a lack of female role models and mentors,
• a perceived lack of flexibility in the industry.

However, there are many initiatives underway to address these barriers and promote the participation of women in construction.

 

Promoting Women in Construction

Some of the projects that promote women in construction by enabling information and education is FEMCON project. FEMCON’s mission is to create innovative vocational education and training tools to help women working in or considering a career in the construction industry advance to visible roles within the industry. The project’s goal is to make the industry more appealing to women, resulting in a greater number of women choosing the sector, creating conditions for positive change, and improving the industry’s gender outlook and quality of life in the male-dominated sector.

Diversity is having a culture that values uniqueness: people of different backgrounds, cultures, genders, and races. Inclusion means inviting diverse groups to take part in company life. But there’s a third critical piece: belonging. It’s belonging that makes each individual feel accepted for who they are. Explore the diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIB) approach in this eLearn Safety fully online course Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. In this eLearning course we will explore the need for diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace, how to build a diverse workplace, your role in this, how to check your unconscious bias and also how to take on an ally role.

 

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

 

Work-related Stress

Work-related Stress is the reaction people have to excessive work-related pressures or other types of demand placed on them. While there may be some disagreement over an exact definition, most people believe that it is a serious problem in their organisations.

 

Work-related Stress Surveys

Various work-related stress surveys found that stress is a significant issue at work. Majority of surveyed employees claim they had taken time off work due to stress. Basically, stress is thought to pose a relatively high risk. However, it is often the least well controlled of all risks at work.

Pressures exist in all aspects of people’s lives. There is even some evidence that we need pressure to be able to function at maximum effectiveness. Be that as it may, the responses to pressure, physical and mental, can be damaging if required to continue beyond the short term. Psychological, and physical illness caused by work-related stress can result in anxiety, depression, heart diseases and other serious medical conditions.

 

Work-related Stress Contributing Factors

Factors which may contribute to stress in the workplace include:

• The physical work environment (e.g., noise, cold, heat, etc.).
• Working conditions (e.g., salary, long hours, unsocial hours, travel requirements, etc.).
• Change in practices and techniques.
• Volume of work (e.g., overload).
• Work design and pace
• Roles within the organisation.
• Tension between pressures of production and safety requirements.
• Relationships with other people at work.
• Organisational style and office dynamics.
• Lack of job security.
• Poor communication, training and involvement in decision making.

There are a number of additional factors which can be a cause of work-related stress. Isolating one or more of these factors as a cause of a particular stress problem is difficult. This is because most of these factors are inter-related.

 

Dealing with Work-related Stress

Stress at work is believed to reduce the individual’s effectives, increase absenteeism and labour turnover. In addition, it may increase the likelihood of injury.

Each employer has an obligation to ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health of employees is not endangered in the course of their work.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has a number of useful resources that can be used in managing work related stress. For instance, one of these resources is WorkpositiveCI. WorkpositiveCI has been developed by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), State Claims Agency (SCA) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Network Ireland. It is a free, easy to use, innovative, confidential, psychosocial risk management process that provides feedback on workplace stress.  In addition, it looks into employee psychological wellbeing and critical incident exposure in the workplace. As a matter of fact, it is designed to deliver structured guidance enabling organisations to develop an action plan to mitigate against these stressors.

In addition, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published a number of useful guidance, publications and resources on workplace stress.

Another beneficial course is a fully online Working Safely course. Working Safely is a 2 hour online course for people at any level, in any sector, that will boost business performance and staff motivation. Simply by showing how everyone can enhance their safety, health and wellbeing through everyday behaviours. The topics include importance of working safely, definitions of hazards and risks, common workplace hazards and how to improve safety performance.

 

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

Workers’ Memorial Day

Workers’ Memorial Day is marked around the world on the 28th April each year. On this date we remember those who have been killed or injured in work related incidents.

The Grim Statistics

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2016 all employers and self-employed persons are legally obliged to report the injury of an employee as a result of an accident while at work. In particular, injuries must be reported if an employee is unable to carry out their normal work for more than three consecutive days, excluding the day of the accident.

The work-related injuries include any injuries incurred by workers in the course of their work. To clarify, these injuries can range from minor injuries to the most serious injuries that resulted in death. According to the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland and the Health and Safety Statistics they publish, the following is workplace fatalities statistics for years 2013 – 2022:

• 2013 – 47 fatalities.
• 2014 – 55 fatalities.
• 2015 – 56 fatalities.
• 2016 – 48 fatalities.
• 2017 – 48 fatalities.
• 2018 – 39 fatalities.
• 2019 – 49 fatalities.
• 2020 – 54 fatalities.
• 2021 – 38 fatalities.
• 2022 – 28 fatalities.

The total number of fatalities for the period 2013/22 is staggering 462.

Workplace Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities (2021–2022) – Full Report.

 

Non-Fatal Injuries Reported to the HSA

It is not only fatalities that can leave a lasting mark and cause human suffering. Of course, the physical and mental pain, and hardship in general resulting from injury and disability is impossible to quantify. The disruption to lives of workers and their families it causes is far reaching with lasting consequences.

In summary, in 2022, 9,070 non-fatal injuries were reported to the HSA which is an increase of 8% from the 8,371 reported in 2021. For example, the most injured body part for workers in 2022 was the back, associated with 26% of non-fatal incidents reported to the Authority. This is in keeping with recent years, with back injuries comprising 27% of all non-fatal injuries reported to the Authority between 2018 and 2022. Non-fatal back injuries were caused primarily by manual handling incidents.

 

Workplace Accidents

Accidents are a direct result of unsafe activities and unsafe conditions. These can be controlled by proactive management practices and employee awareness. The Management is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the working environment and work-related tasks. To prevent workplace injuries and illness the employer must:

• Provide and keep safe workplaces, machinery and equipment.
• Reduce the chance of risks when using any item or substance and from exposure to physical agents, noise and vibration.
• Prevent any improper conduct or behaviour which might put the safety, health and welfare of employees at risk (for example, ‘horseplay’ or bullying at work).
• Provide instruction and training to employees on health and safety.
• Provide protective clothing and equipment to employees at no cost to employees.
• Appoint a suitable person as the organisation’s safety officer.

Employees must be given information, and the knowledge that accidents are not inevitable but are caused. They need training to develop skills and recognise the need to comply with safe systems of work. Furthermore, they should take an active role in developing said safe systems of work and report and correct unsafe conditions and practices. Without doubt, employee safety awareness and attitudes require constant review and improvement where necessary.

 

The Purpose of Workers’ Memorial Day

The purpose of Workers’ Memorial Day is to remember those who have been killed or injured in work related incidents. However, the purpose of this day is more than just remembrance. Indeed, the purpose is to promote a safe work climate and culture, one which fosters good workplace safety and health practices and conditions. For additional information about workplace safety, please see eLearn Safety blog entry from 21st April 2023 titled Workplace Accidents and Their Prevention. In addition, a blog entry Workplace Hazards from 24th February 2023 provides some additional information about hazards in the workplace. For example, it looks into how to identify and address workplace hazards.

Accident prevention in the workplace is not just setting up a list of rules and enforcing these. Having said this, the rules are certainly important but they are and should be part of a larger picture – developing and managing a system for managing health and safety. Worker safety and health is everyone’s business and can only be tackled through a collaborative approach by all.

 

Workers’ Memorial Day 2024

We must remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases. In addition, remembrance must be coupled with the commitment to fight for a world that’s more, not less, safe to live and work in.

To mark Workers’ Memorial Day 2024 there are a range of initiatives that your organisation should consider including:

• Hold a minute’s silence at 12 noon in your workplace.
• Get involved by using the national Workers’ Memorial Day Ireland logo on a website, social media presence, presentations, email signatures, displays and in offices and workplaces.
• Organise an in-house training sessions and/or a toolbox talk.
• Website/Social Media/Newsletter content.
• Organise Awareness Talk with a Guest speaker presentation to your staff.
• Use #WorkersMemorialDay on all social media activity.

It is very important to have an effective occupational health management system in place. Overall, there are sound economic reasons for reducing work-related accidents and ill-health, as well as ethical and regulatory reasons. Markedly, businesses that manage safety and health successfully invariably have a positive safety culture. Without a doubt, Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. With this in mind, it is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. In other words, the role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

 

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