Safe Operation of Mobile Cranes

Safe operation of mobile cranes is not just a good practice, it is a legal requirement. Specifically, two important documents to consider here are:

• I.S. 360 – Code of Practice: Safe Use of Cranes in the Construction Industry.
• I.S. 361 – Code of Practice: Safe Use of Tower Cranes & Self-erecting Cranes.

 

Hazards

Mobile cranes related significant hazards are numerous but mainly:

• Unplanned release or dropping of load, damage to people, equipment or property.
• Overturning of a crane.
• Persons crushed between load and fixture or vehicle.
• Persons crushed between fixtures and moving parts of the crane.
• Striking by falling objects.
• Striking or arcing from overhead power cable.

To ensure safe operation of mobile cranes these hazards must be addressed.

 

Actions to take Before the Crane Use

All lifting operations must be under the control of an appointed person. Planning should consider the weight of the load, radius of lift, overhead clearance, ground conditions, positioning of the crane and lifting equipment required. In addition, relevant test certificates or copies must be kept available for inspection. These must be available before the work starts. Sufficient trained banksmen and slingers must be available. In general, all banksman must be readily identifiable on site by, for example, the distinctive colour of fluorescent jackets or safety helmets.

 

Basic Control Measures to Ensure Safe Operation of Mobile Cranes

Cranes must be positioned on firm ground with stabilisers extended and wooden blocks beneath stabiliser pads. This is regardless of the apparent ground conditions. No person should enter the crane operating area without permission. Furthermore, loads must not be swung over personnel, site huts, buildings or public areas. Lifting equipment must be selected considering the weight and stability of the load. Finally, guide ropes should be used on large loads to guide and steady the lift.

All personnel involved with lifting operations must wear safety helmets, gloves and safety footwear. The PPE must be worn at all times. Telephone/radio communication or the system of hand signals should be used to communicate between the driver and the slingers and banksmen. Another key point to note is that the table of safe working loads for various radii must be clearly visible to the driver. Fitted audible alarm signals must be functioning correctly at all times when the crane is in use. In addition, safety helmets must be worn by all those within the swinging radius of the crane.

 

Role of the Managements

Manufacturer’s information on weight, centre of gravity and slinging arrangements for the load should be obtained in advance where practicable. Lifting operations must be under the control of an appointed person. Banksmen should be used when the driver’s vision of the load is obstructed. Wind conditions should be monitored and work stopped if the stability of the load is affected. The area within the arc of operations should be cleared of personnel. In addition, workers should not be allowed to stand beneath a suspended load. On the whole, all the equipment used must be in date for servicing and statutory inspection.

 

Training Requirements

Supervisors, crane drivers and slingers must be appropriately trained. The appointed persons should be trained and competent in the theory and practice of crane lifting operations and equipment used. To help with raising general workplace safety awareness, the eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Workplace Safety – Level 1 course. This course is ideal for every employee in any workplace that’s subject to Health & 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. In addition, employees might benefit from taking the Working at Heights course.

In addition, the HSA has published a range of useful information about lifting equipment. This information can be accessed via their web page title Machinery, and specifically Use of Work Equipment guide.

In addition, the Health and Safety Executive (UK) has published a number of useful information about Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). This information can be accessed via their webpage Equipment and machinery.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established eLearn Safety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

eLearn Safety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

Excavations

Excavations are a very dangerous high risk construction activity. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires a risk assessment to be performed by contractors before undertaking any excavation work. The risk assessment must:

• identify those hazards that are likely to be encountered;
• determine the control measures; and
• determine the safe system of work required to protect employees and persons affected by the activities taking place.

Control measures selected could be in the form of shoring (support for the excavation), battering (sloping the excavation) or other suitable means.

In addition, the Construction Regulations require contractors to guard against the dangers from a fall or dislodgement of material in an excavation.

 

Before Excavations Activates Start

Before excavations even take place, some planning has to take place. For example, we must plan to prevent danger to workers in or near excavations. To maintain the required precautions, a competent person must inspect excavation supports or battering at the start of the working shift and at other specified times. No work should take place until the excavation is safe. Furthermore, sufficient numbers of trained staff and adequate supervision must be present on site before works start. Additionally, sufficient and suitable plant and equipment for trench support must be on site before work starts. Information on ground conditions and location of existing services must be obtained before work starts.

 

Excavations and Basic Control Measures

To implement basic excavation control measures a competent person would need to decide what temporary support will be required and plan the precautions to be taken. Another key point to consider is the presence of any buried services. These must be addressed before excavation works begin. Signs and barriers must be provided to cordon off the place of work and precaution must be taken when considering location of excavated spoil and any material delivered to the site.

 

Excavations Related Management Procedures

To successfully manage any excavations activities, certain systems must be implemented. For example, a safe system of works must be provided taking into account weather, traffic conditions and existing structures. In addition, suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) must be provided.  A competent person must inspect excavations:

• At least once in every day during which persons are at work there.
• If more than 2 metres deep, at the start of each shift before work begins.
• After any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the excavation or the shoring.
• After any accidental fall of rock, earth or other material.
• At least once every 7 days where persons are not at work there.

 

Training Requirements

Supervisors must be trained in the theory and practice of excavation work. In addition, they should be aware of COSHH regulations and requirements. Workers must be trained in excavation support procedures appropriate to the work method selected. To help with raising general workplace safety awareness, the eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Workplace Safety – Level 1 course. This course is ideal for every employee in any workplace that’s subject to Health & 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.

In addition, the HSA has published a range of useful information about excavations safety. This information can be accessed via their web page title Working in Excavations-Frequently Asked Questions.

In addition, Health and Safety Executive (UK) has published a number of useful information about excavations. This information can be accessed via their webpage Excavations.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established eLearn Safety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

eLearn Safety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

 

 

Importance of Farm Safety

Importance of farm safety and appropriate health and safety culture on farms is often literally a matter of life and death. According to the Irish Government, farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in Ireland.  Unfortunately, there are an average of 20 fatal incidents on farms every year. In addition, there are around 2,800 serious injuries annually on farms. Many of these are life changing and place the farmers’ livelihood and farm at risk.

 

Common Stressors

There are a number of reasons that might affect farmers to neglect their own and overall farm safety. Sometimes this is the farm work itself such as extremely heavy work load extending 9-5 work hours. Farming is often a 24/7, 365 days type of employment. Most farmers are self-employed and often this heavy workload is not shared. If the farmer does not complete the task, it will remain uncompleted. Usually, there is no one else to pick up the task.  In addition, there are other stressors such as worrying about animal health. Losing a single animal can cause a domino effect and jeopardise financial existence. This in turn might not affect only the farmer, but their whole family. And beyond.

Equally, there are other ‘invisible’ stressors which are often ignored or parked to one side. These ‘invisible’ stressors might include feeling isolated, health issues, relationship conflicts and financial difficulties. The ‘work’ and animal welfare usually come first. Mental wellbeing usually comes last.

Lastly, farmers are often their own manual labour, accountants, lawyers, farm managers, mechanics, health and safety officers, sales agents, etc. They take care of all labour, paper work and ensure regulatory compliance.

 

Ignoring Farm Safety

Whilst importance of farm safety is often taken on board by many, it might lose its priority once it gets lined up against common stressors of farming. Unfortunately, when making decisions, most people have biases and take short cuts which often leads to poor decision making. ‘Animals need to be tended. It will take just a second, no need to use a cattle crash’. ‘I need just a bit of pesticide. No need to use protective equipment. I’ll be careful‘. ‘I am busy. No time for this health and safety stuff now. This can wait.’.

With this in mind, developing a safe process for each task on the farm and having the strength to follow that process, is an important step in ensuring you stay safe. This is regardless of whatever else is happening.

 

Working Towards Farm Safety

It is critical to recognise the importance of farm safety. The following are just a few tips for how to achieve this:

Conduct Safety Training Regularly

eLearn Safety has a number of fully online health and safety courses that can be of benefit to a farmer. These can be found in Farming and Forestry course section. In addition, a significant amount of useful information can be found on the following websites: Farm Safety Hub, Teagasc Farm Safety, and HSA Agriculture and Forestry.

Maintain Farm Equipment

Faulty and outdated equipment are major risks to farm safety. This is because these machines are more likely to fail when employees use them. This can result in costly and dangerous incidents in the field. This is especially true when dealing with heavier equipment such as tractors and plowing machines.

Handle Chemicals and Hazardous Products with Extra Care

It’s common for farmers to handle various hazardous chemicals and products during farming activities. This is because part of the agricultural process involves giving certain chemicals to the plants and produce to fight bugs and other pests. While these pesticides and chemicals are effective at keeping pests at bay, they can be dangerous for humans.

Invest in Alert Systems

Understanding when there’s an emergency or incident is crucial for smooth and safe operations in any business, farming not being an exception. So, make sure that your farm has an efficient and functional alert system in place so that you always stay on top of your personal safety.

 

Online Health and Safety Training

Proactive Health and Safety training is critical to ensure a safe workplace. An effective training program can reduce the number of worker injuries and deaths. It can also reduce instances of property damage, legal liability, illnesses, and missed time from work.

Health and Safety training helps establish a culture in which employees themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety. The role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.

This is why we have established eLearn Safety school. We pride ourselves in how we guide, support and mentor our students. They receive support throughout their learning experience and into their working lives. Our staff have extensive training experience and also have many years industry experience. We understand the challenges that exist within Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Our priority is to ensure that all learners are fully prepared to differentiate themselves in the workplace after completing our Health and Safety courses.

eLearn Safety offers fully online Health and Safety courses.

To find out more, please check our Courses page.

Alternatively, should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let us know via email info@elearn.ie

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

Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction affecting the whole body.

 

Developing Anaphylactic Shock

The anaphylactic shock may develop within seconds or minutes of contact with a trigger and is potentially fatal. In an anaphylactic reaction, chemicals are released into the blood that widen (dilate) blood vessels. For this reason blood pressure will fall and air passages narrow (constrict), resulting in breathing difficulties. In addition, the tongue and throat can swell, obstructing the airway. The amount of oxygen reaching the vital organs can be severely reduced causing hypoxia.

 

Common Triggers of Anaphylactic Shock

Common triggers of anaphylactic shock include food (such as nuts, shellfish and eggs), wasp and bee stings, latex, certain medications, etc. In the event that a person develops an anaphylactic shock, an emergency treatment with an injection of adrenaline will be required.

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish anaphylaxis from asthma, fainting, and panic attacks. Asthma however typically does not entail itching or gastrointestinal symptoms, fainting presents with pallor rather than a rash, and a panic attack may have flushing but does not have hives.

 

Anaphylactic Shock and Food

Many foods can trigger anaphylaxis. This may occur after the first known ingestion. Common triggering foods vary around the world due to cultural cuisine. For example, in Western cultures, ingestion of or exposure to peanuts, wheat, nuts, certain types of seafood like shellfish, milk, fruit and eggs are the most prevalent causes. On the other hand, sesame is common in the Middle East, while rice and chickpeas are frequently encountered as sources of anaphylaxis in Asia. Severe cases are usually caused by ingesting the allergen, However, some people experience a severe reaction upon contact. On the positive side, children can outgrow their allergies. By age 16, 80% of children with anaphylaxis to milk or eggs and 20% who experience isolated anaphylaxis to peanuts can tolerate these foods. However, any type of alcohol, even in small amounts, can trigger anaphylaxis in people with Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

To educate about common food allergens, eLearn Safety has developed a fully online Management of Food Allergens course. The course is designed to introduce participants to understanding food allergens and management of associated risks. Furthermore, after completing the course, participants will be able to understand their requirements under Irish food safety legislation as well as following best work practices.

 

What to do if someone Suffers Anaphylactic Shock

In case someone is developing anaphylactic shock:

1. Call 999/112 for emergency assistance. Specifically, tell the ambulance dispatcher that you suspect anaphylaxis.
2. If the casualty has an auto-injector of adrenaline, help them to use it. If they are unable to administer it, and only if you are trained to use it, apply the injector as trained to do so.
3. Help the casualty to sit up in the position that best relieves any breathing difficulty. If they become pale with a weak pulse, help them to lie down with legs raised and treat for shock.
4. Monitor and record vital signs; breathing, pulse and level of response, while waiting for help to arrive. Repeated doses of adrenaline can be given at five-minute intervals if there is no improvement or the symptoms return.

 

How to Recognise Anaphylactic Shock

Development of anaphylactic shock might have features of allergy:

• Red, itchy rash or raised areas of skin (weals).
• Red itchy, watery eyes.
• Swelling of hands, feet and/or face.
• Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In addition, the following signs might be present:

• Difficulty breathing, ranging from a tight chest to severe difficulty, causing the casualty to wheeze and gasp for air.
• Pale or flushed skin.
• Visible swelling of tongue and throat with puffiness around the eyes.
• Feeling of terror.
• Confusion and agitation.
• Signs of shock, leading to collapse and loss of consciousness.

Remember, the aim of helping someone in anaphylactic shock is to ease their breathing. In addition, a shock treatment might be required. In the event that the patient’s condition is deteriorating, an urgent transport to the hospital might be required. Unfortunately, anaphylactic shock can develop rapidly and patients’ health might degrade even faster, ultimately resulting in fatality.

 

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

Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

Emergency medical condition – asthma, is a respiratory medical condition. In an asthma attack, the muscles of the air passages in lungs go into spasm. As a result, the airways become narrowed, which makes breathing difficult.

 

Asthma Triggers

Sometimes, there is a recognised trigger for an attack. For example, an allergy, a cold, a particular drug or cigarette smoke. At other times, there is no obvious trigger. Many sufferers have sudden, unexpected attacks.

 

How to deal with Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

People with asthma usually deal with their own attacks by using a reliever inhaler at the first sign of an attack. Most reliever inhalers have blue caps. Preventer inhalers have brown or white caps and are used to prevent attacks. They should never be used during an asthma attack.

 

Recognising Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

Recognising Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma is usually very straightforward. Signs of Asthma are usually:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Wheezing.
• Difficulty speaking, leading to short sentences and whispering.
• Distress and anxiety.
• Features of hypoxia, such as a grey-blue tinge to the lips, earlobes and nailbeds (cyanosis).
• Exhaustion in a severe attack. If the attack worsens, the casualty may stop breathing and lose consciousness.

 

What to do in Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma

There are some steps we can take to help someone in Emergency Medical Condition – Asthma:

1. Keep calm! Reassure the casualty. Get them to take their usual dose of the reliever inhaler. Ask them to breathe slowly and deeply.
2. Sit them down in the position they find most comfortable.
3. A mild attack should ease within a few minutes. If it does not, the casualty may take one to two puffs from their inhaler every two minutes until they have had ten puffs.
4. Call 999/112 for emergency assistance if the attack is severe and one of the following occurs; the inhaler has no effect, the casualty is getting worse; breathlessness makes talking difficult, they are becoming exhausted.
5. Help the casualty to continue to use their inhaler as required. Monitor their vital signs: breathing, pulse and level of response until help arrives.

For additional information about Asthma, please see eLearn Safety fully online course titled Common Medical Emergencies: Asthma. This course will provide information to gain a better understanding of asthma and associated risk factors.

In addition, this St. John Ambulance first aid training video shows you what signs to look out for and how to help someone having an asthma attack. If you think someone may be having an asthma attack, it is important to know how to help them:

How to Treat an Asthma Attack – First Aid Training – St John Ambulance

 

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