corrib gas field niso conference helpline upcoming … · 2009 helpline upcoming events winter 2009...

safety and

working at height

INSIDECORRIB GAS FIELDNISO CONFERENCE

2009HELPLINE

UPCOMING EVENTS

WINTER 2009

NISO is a not-for-profit voluntary body,dedicated to the promotion of health

and safety in Irish workplaces

NISO President Reflectson 2009 conference andawardsAs 2009 draws near to a close, NISO has in these difficult times held its focus onhealth and safety with a well attended conference in Castlebar at the end ofSeptember last. The number of delegates in attendance was on par with previousyears and the feedback on the conference evaluation forms was very positive. Thetwo accident victim speakers, Candace Carnahan and James Gorry, will leave alasting impression on the conference delegates with accounts of their accidentsand having to come to terms with their physical and psychological disability.

Likewise, there were a highnumber of submissions forour annual safety awards,together with a largenumber of organisationsattending the Gala dinner.The awards were co-presented by Dara Calleary,T.D., Minister for LabourAffairs, David Cooke fromthe Northern Ireland SafetyGroup, Dermot Carey fromthe Construction IndustryFederation and PauricCorrigan the NISOPresident. The gala awardsdinner was attended bythree Mayo men who leadthe way in health and safety,Minister Dara Calleary, JimLyons chairman of theHealth and Safety Authorityand Pauric Corrigan NISOPresident. One could saythat it was a tribute to thethree to hold the awards inCastlebar County Mayo.

Next year the awards will besimplified to reduce some ofthe duplication that takesplace when companies maketheir submissions and it ishoped to take the awards tothe next level giving greaterrecognition to the recipients.

I would like to take thisopportunity to thank all thecompanies who madesubmissions to our awardsand look forward toreceiving their submissionsin 2010. To all who helpedin the successful running of

our conference, I would liketo extend a sincere thanks.

Dates For 2010• NISO Annual GeneralMeeting, Saturday 17thApril, Head OfficeCalmount, Dublin.

• All Ireland Safety QuizFinal, Saturday 24thApril in Belfast.

• National Safety Awards& Annual Conference,Thursday 30thSeptember & Friday 1stOctober, hosted by theMidlands Region.

An Board Snip Nua As reported in the lastedition of Update, NISOhas made a submission toDara Calleary, T.D.,Minister for Labour Affairs,on the recommendations bythe Special Group on PublicService Numbers andExpenditure Programmes tomerge the Health and SafetyAuthority and the NationalEmployment RightsAuthority, receipt of whichhas been acknowledged bythe Department.

Regional AGM`sThe time of year is quicklyapproaching when the eightregions hold their AnnualGeneral Meetings. Noticeswill be sent to all memberswithin their respectiveregions.Members should make aspecial effort to attend their

regional AGM and becomeinvolved in supporting theirregion. As the regionsorganise various seminarsthroughout the year ontopical subjects, there maybe a subject that one wouldlike a seminar orpresentation on. So, comealong and support yourregional officers andcommittee.

On behalf of NISO, asPresident, My FellowOfficers, ExecutiveMembers and Staff of HeadOffice, I would like to wishall our members a safe,healthy and happyChristmas and New Year.

Pauric Corrigan,PresidentNational Irish SafetyOrganisation.

IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial/President’s Message .................2

NISO/National News ..............3

FEATURES

Corrib Gas Field .........................5

NISO Conference 2009 ..........6

Safety Award Winners 2009..7

Safety and Working at Height ......................................9

FORUM

Update from the Health and Safety Authority .............10

Going from strength to strength ................................11

SIPTU’s Safety and HealthAdviser, Sylvester Cronin,writes about the Politics of Risk Assessment.................12

Helpline .....................................13

Regional Focus – Mid West...15

Upcoming Events ..................16

Visit www.niso.ie todownload previouscopies of the NISOUpdate!

EDITORIAL

2 NISO UPDATE! WINTER 2009

NISO Update! is issuedby the National IrishSafety Organisation(NISO).

Material printed in NISO Update!is not necessarily endorsed by theNational Irish SafetyOrganisation.

Editorial enquiries to: The Editor,NISO, A11 Calmount Park,Calmount Avenue, Ballymount,Dublin 12. Tel: 01 465 9760 Fax: 01 465 9765 Email: [email protected]

Design & Print: Print Bureau Tel: 01 4733 567www.printbureau.ie

Pauric Corrigan, President,

National Irish Safety Organisation

NEWS

NISO UPDATE! WINTER 2009 3

November marked the 20thanniversary of the establishment ofthe Health and Safety Authority andthe introduction of modern legislationaimed at protecting workers across allindustry sectors.

As a result of the report of the Commissionof Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare atWork, chaired by Mr. Justice Barrington,the then Minister for Labour, Bertie AhernT.D., introduced the Safety, Health andWelfare at Work Act which came into effecton November 1st 1989.

Martin O’Halloran, chief executive of theHealth and Safety Authority, believes thatthis was a significant moment for Irishworkplaces. “The 1989 Act created adedicated Authority with responsibility forsafety, health and welfare in allworkplaces. The new Act was responsiblefor a modern philosophy with innovative

practices such as risk assessment andhazard identification introduced as aresult.”

Looking to the future, the Health andSafety Authority will be launching its newthree year strategy in early 2010 andaccording to Mr. O’Halloran there is stillmuch work to be done. “I believe that theway we approach work has changed for thebetter but we cannot allow the gains madeover the last 20 years to slip regardless ofthe economic situation. The nature ofwork itself has changed dramatically sincethe establishment of the Authority andmany new issues have emerged in relationto, for example, occupational illnesses andthe safe and sustainable use of chemicals.We have many challenges to face over thecoming years.”

For further information and to view thework carried out by the Health and SafetyAuthority, please see www.hsa.ie.

20th Anniversary ofthe Health and SafetyAuthority

The Executive Committee and staff of theNational Irish Safety Organisation (NISO),together with its current and former officers,members and friends were deeply saddenedby the recent passing of Benedict Daly.

Benedict Daly was a founder member andfirst President of NISO from 1963 – 1968.Benedict had a successful career,culminating in being a District Court Judgefor seven years before his retirement in 1981.

Benedict married Doreen O’Regan, fromCork, on 20th April, 1954. Both Benedictand Doreen had a very long and happy lifetogether until Doreen’s death in 2007.

Benedict had many interests which he tookpart in upon his retirement. These includejoining the local Active Retirement Group inRathfarnham, painting, French and travelling.

Benedict was always interested in currentaffairs, history and politics and of courseNISO, with whom he had a long history. Hewas an avid reader of literature and had aconsiderable library containing anythingfrom the complete works of Shakespeare tothe complete works of NISO, as hisdaughter Mary would say.

Benedict was a true gentleman and manytributes have been paid to him by variouspeople associated with NISO over its 46 yearhistory.

We hope that the work commenced byBenedict and held in such high regard by hissuccessors will continue into the future.Benedict will always be remembered for thecare and compassion that he showed in bothhis career and personal life. He will beremembered for his work and vision inestablishing and directing NISO in themanner required.

Benedict is survived by his two daughters,Mary and Anne.

Although Ben will be missed by many of usin NISO, his legacy will set the direction thatNISO will take in the years ahead.

Benedict Daly 1918 - 2009

Ted O’Keeffe

Obituary –Benedict Daly

Ireland Top EUTable onWorkplaceHealth andSafetyImprovementsFigures released by the EuropeanAgency for Safety and Health atWork (EU-OSHA) have placedIreland at the top of an EU tableon perceptions of workplacehealth and safety improvementsover the last five years.

83% of Irish respondents to thepan-European research studyindicated that workplace healthand safety standards wereeither better or much bettercompared to five years ago, thehighest rating amongst 27European countries. In relationto the provision of informationabout workplace safety andhealth risks, Ireland was insecond place with 84% ofrespondents claiming they wereeither fairly well or very wellinformed.

Mr. Martin O’Halloran, chiefexecutive of the Health andSafety Authority, welcomed thefigures released by theEuropean Agency but said thereis still a huge amount of workto be done in ensuring allworkers arrive home safe andsound every day.

The study also indicates thatthere is widespread concernamong European citizens thatthe current economic crisiscould adversely affect healthand safety at work, putting atrisk the improvements thatthey report having seen overthe last five years. According tothe study, 6 out of 10Europeans expect the globaleconomic downturn todeteriorate working conditions,especially regarding health andsafety. This figure is consistentwith Irish perceptions.

The HSA is concerned at anational survey carriedout by Teagasc whichshows that almost twothirds of farmers have notcompleted the FarmSafety Code of Practice.

Speaking at a national farmsafety conference, PatGriffin, senior inspector withthe Health and SafetyAuthority, told delegates “It’squite clear that manyfarmers are showing little orno regard for the Farm SafetyCode of Practice. A copy ofthe Code was sent to everyfarmer in the country andthere’s simply no excuse forsuch a low compliance rate.”

John McNamara, health andsafety officer with Teagasc,also made his concernknown and stated “this yearTeagasc will provide 100half-day courses around thecountry to assist farmers to

complete the Farm SafetyCode. Teagasc advisersunderstand the day-to-daydifficulties in running a farmand work with farmers in apractical way. However, noone can ignore the fact thatfarming is a dangerous workactivity and farmers mustchange their attitudes andget out of the ‘it will neverhappen to me’ mindset thatis all too common.”

Minister for Labour Affairs,Dara Calleary, T.D., speakingat the National PloughingChampionships in Co.Kildare, called on farmers toattend the practical half-daytraining course and stated

“there is strong evidence thatattending health and safetytraining will greatly reducethe likelihood of anaccident”.

In 2008, twenty-one of thefifty-seven workplace deathswere farm related and so farthis year there have been ninedeaths in the agriculture,hunting and forestry sector.This in the context thatfarming employs only 6% ofthe workforce makes it themost dangerous sector inwhich to work.

Please view the Teagascwebsite, www.teagasc.ie, forfurther information.

NEWS


Concern that only one-third offarmers use Code of Practice

HSA Warning On Work At HeightThe Health and SafetyAuthority has issued awarning to workers totake appropriateprecautions when workingat height.

This warning comes as theAuthority reveal that sevenworkers have been killed as aresult of falls so far this year,with the constructionindustry accounting for fiveof these deaths. In 2008,three of the fifteenconstruction related deathswere as a result of falls fromheight.

A concerned Martin O’Dea,senior inspector with theHealth and Safety Authority,said “Compared to last year,there has been a significantincrease in deaths as a resultof a fall. Most of theaccidents have involved fallsfrom roofs and ladders.Unsecured ladders areparticularly dangerous and I

would urge workers toorganise and plan their workwith their safety and healthin mind. It’s also veryimportant that workers onlyuse equipment that issuitable to the job.”

As per the GeneralApplication Regulations2007 guidance document onWork at Height, allemployers must carry out arisk assessment for all workat height and put in placearrangements for: • Eliminating or minimisingrisks from working atheight,

• Safe systems of work fororganising and performingwork at height,

• Safe systems for selectingsuitable work equipmentto perform work at height,and,

• Safe systems for protectingpeople from theconsequences of work atheight.

Information related to workat height can be downloaded

from the HSA website,www.hsa.ie.

FEATURE


Corrib Gas Field

NISO conference delegates visiting the Corrib Gas Field

Harry Galvin, Secretary ofthe National Irish SafetyOrganisation, speaksabout the NISO site visitto the Corrib Gas Field.

On the eve of the NISOannual Safety Conference 33delegates availed of a site visitto the Corrib Gas Field in Co.Mayo. The group’s firstimpression of the site was theremoteness of the locationbut on entering the site oneimmediately noticed the hiveof activity as the 941 staff onsite went about their tasks tocomplete what is one of thelargest construction projectsundertaken in recent memory.

Kieran McKenna and hiscolleagues took time outfrom their busy schedule totake the delegates on a tourof the site and they alsomade a presentationoutlining the works activity.Their target is to completethe construction works forthe plant so that productionwill commence inAugust/September 2010. Inthe interim, the timetable isfor hydrocarbons system

testing in November and allmechanical constructionexcept the administrationarea to be completed inDecember. Theadministration area is to becompleted by March 2010.The summer will be a busyperiod with the testing andchecking of all systemsbefore productioncommences.

PeatRemoval of peat commencedin April 2007 and over a 12week period 340,000 tonnesof peat was removed andrelocated to an extinct bogsome miles away bringing itback to life.

At peak times there were1000 people working on thesite and when the plant is inproduction it will employ130 full time staff who willall live in the local area.Twelve towns inMayo/Galway will also beconnected to Bord Gáisnetwork which up to nowwere not connected to theGas network.

In August 2009, the Corrib

Gas Field site achieved 1.6million man hours workedwithout a loss time accident.This on a remoteconstruction project is a fineachievement and shows thataccident free sites arepossible with the correctprocedures, and commitmentof management and staff.

Safety ProgrammeTheir safety programmeincludes safety inductiontraining as well as permits towork systems, weekly sitesafety walkabouts, tool boxtalks and site stand-downswhere all staff are gatheredtogether and reminded ofsafety issues as they arise.Safety meetings includedirectors meetings inaddition to local meetingswith all contractors on site.

The project team on siteidentified issues relating toboth driving on site anddriving to and from work. Inresponse to this issue a ‘RoadSafety Leadership Team’ wasset up to improve driversafety, the team introduced‘Defensive Driving Training’for their staff and this has

seen a marked improvementin driver safety.

Like the majority ofconstruction sites,scaffolding was everywhereand we were informed thatthere was 2,600 tonnes ofscaffolding erected on theproject. As we went aroundthe site we were impressedwith the orderly manner inwhich the works were beingundertaken and goodhousekeeping was veryapparent. The delegates wereleft with a view that theproject team had focused onthe smaller issues whichwhen not properly dealt withcan have a domino effect andmay build up to cause themore serious safety issues.By focusing on the smallerissues they can prevent theseescalating and can thencontrol the higher risks morereadily. This has created thecorrect attitude with staffwho understands that safetyon site is viewed asimportant by themanagement team and thatmanagement lead byexample.

FEATURE


Herbert Mulligan, Editorof the Health and SafetyReview, reports on theNISO Conference 2009.

The true mark of the successof a conference is that forweeks afterwards people talkabout what they heard at theconference. Judged againstthat criterion the NationalIrish Safety Organisation’s2009 conference was anoutstanding success.

When those who were at theconference meet at othersafety events, discussionquickly turns to the impactof the presentations byaccident victims CandaceCarnahan and James Gorryon their audience as they tolddelegates to the conference ofhow the day they wereinjured in workplaceaccidents had changed theirlives forever.

Personal impact of accidents Candace Carnahan, a youngCanadian woman tolddelegates how as a studentshe took a summer job inlocal paper mill. Telling howthe accident happened, sheexplained that she “workedaround a conveyor beltsystem”, which peoplewalked over. Because theydid it, she did it.

Then one day as she walkedon the belt her foot gotcaught and went down. Shefell over sideways. Shescreamed and the beltstopped – stopped by a

colleague who heard herscreaming. She was awakeand recalls “everybodyturning green”. She wasstuck in the machine for halfan hour, while rescuers gother “mangled foot out of thebelt”. After beingdisentangled from themachine she was taken to thelocal hospital and her footwas bandaged. It was onlywhen she was taken toanother hospital that sherealised her accident wasvery serious. There her legwas “amputated from belowthe knee”.

The consequences of theaccident are she said, that “Iwill never walk again on myown two legs”. Putting to theconference the question,what went wrong, sheanswers “I was working in aplace that had an unsafework culture”. What isneeded, she says, is a culturechange, a change ofattitudes”. She concluded“accidents and fatalities are100% preventable”.

James Gorry’s story wasequally harrowing. Gorry, anexperienced middle agedbuilder, who took safetyseriously – as he put it “I wasapplying all the health andsafety rules” – explained thathe does not really know whathappened. He has been toldthat he got back up on a roofto do a final inspection. He istold he tripped over thevalley gutter.

What he also knows is thatthree weeks later his wifetold him he was in TallaghtHospital, where he spentthree months. He was inintensive care, he wore anAmerican collar, he had twopunctured lungs and he wasparalysed from the waistdown.

Then he was sent to Rehab inDun Laoghaire, where hespent eight months coming

to terms with the fact that hewould never walk again. Thebiggest problem “was thepsychological impact”.Eventually Rehab got himout of the bed but not on hisfeet. As he told the NISOconference, he “will neverstand up, sit down or walkagain”.

Setting the agendaWhile for years to comepeople who were at theconference will speak aboutthe presentations by CandaceCarnahan and James Gorry,delegates came away fromthe better informed to tacklethe issues of work-relatedtransport accidents, theforthcoming swine flupandemic and prepared forthe cost cutting challengesposed by the currenteconomic difficulties. Inmany ways the conference –in keeping with theconference title DrivingSafety and Health – set theagenda for health and safetypractitioners work for thecoming years.

Speaking at the NISO/NISGAwards ceremony on the eveof the conference, theMinister for Labour Affairs,Dara Calleary, T.D.,highlighted the role played bythe EU in the development ofIrish health and safetylegislation. “EUmembership”, the Ministersaid, “has given workerhealth and safety prioritystatus”.

The following morning theopening speaker of theconference Frank Cunneen,who was chairman of theHSA for six years, recalledthat the origins of NISO layin the Factories AdvisoryCouncil which was foundedin 1959. Then in 1963 theCouncil adopted the title ofthe NISO. NISO was locatedin the old Department ofLabour when it wasestablished and then moved

with the HSA, which wasestablished following theenactment of the Safety,Health and Welfare at WorkAct 1989. Recalling thedevelopment of Ireland andhealth and safety in Irelandsince the 1989 Act, Cunneenspoke about the initiativesNISO took in publishingguidance literature, pilotingsafety week and launchingthe national awards.

From the European Agencyfor Safety and Health atWork, Brenda O’Brien spokeabout the emerging risks.Psychosocial risks are, shesaid, “the number oneconcern for the Agency”.Among the causes ofpsychosocial problems areatomise enterprise structures,teleworking, mobile working,the global workplace and24/7 availability. Also the factthat we have a longerworking life, but no longerhave a job for life, is, sheadded, a source of stress.

An immediate problemfacing organisations is theswine flu. Dr AnthonyBreslin from the HSE saidthat by the end of Octoberand in early November wecan expect an increase inswine flu cases. Businessesshould, he warned plan for atleast a “10% rate of absence

Transport safetyOne of the issues at the topof the health and safetyagenda is driving for a living.

The practical issues wereaddressed by senior HSAinspector Deirdre Sinnott,who spoke about managingwork-related vehicle risk. Shepointed out that over the lastsix years 145 people had beenkilled in workplace transportaccidents and 25 in work-related accidents on theroads. The challenges are,she said, managingworkplace transport safetyand work-related road safety.

NISO Conference 2009

Herbert Mulligan

FEATURE


Supreme Award• PSE Kinsale Energy

Platinum Awards• Baxter Healthcare IrishManufacturing Operations

• Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals• Swords Laboratories

President’s Awards• Sierra Communications (large sizeorganisation)

• F K Lowry Piling (medium sizeorganisation)

• Pairc an Chrocaigh (small sizeorganisation)

• RPS Consulting Engineers(construction)

• Walls Construction (new entrant)

Sectoral Awards• Cuisine De France (food/drink)• Galway County Council (localauthority)

• Masonite Ireland (othermanufacturing)

• GE Healthcare – Cork(chemical/pharmaceutical)

• Abbott Ireland Diagnostics Division(medical devices)

• Mount Carmel Hospital (medicalservices)

• Dublin Airport Authority – Dublin(transport)

• Superquinn (retail/wholesale)• Veolia Environmental Services(services)

• Masonite (other manufacturing)• Xerox Technology (electronic)

Regional Awards• Lagan Construction (overall)

NISO wish to congratulate all organisations who received a Safety Award this year for their achievements in the area ofHealth & Safety.

PSE Kinsale Energy was presented with the highest honour, the Supreme Safety Award. The winner of the Supreme SafetyAward is an organisation which can show consistency in safety performance over a number of years, and an outstandingcontribution to occupational health and safety throughout the current year.

This involves considerationof the vehicle, the driver andthe workplace or the journey.

Speaking after DeidreSinnott, Sgt Jim McAllisterof the Road Traffic Unit ofAn Garda Siochana saidemployers who have workerswho drive for a living need toask a number of questions,including: what policies dowe have for the wearing ofseat belts; what are our

policies in respect of peoplewho do not comply withspeed limits; what do weknow of the vehicle ourworker is driving and whatdo we know about the driver?

Cost cuttingThe effects of the recessionwere addressed by the CIF’shead of safety, Dermot Careywho spoke about the impactof cutting costs from theemployers’ perspective and

ICTU’s Esther Lynch, whospoke of the employee’sperspective.

Citing a survey he hadcarried out amongst safetyadvisors in the constructionindustry, Carey mentionconcerns about the loss oftrained staff, lessconcentration on safety,under cutting and poorlymaintained equipment.Expressing particular

concern about costs, hecalled on the Government touse the National TrainingFund to support training

On the issue of cost cutting,Lynch told delegates thatthat the issue is the “cost ofsafety versus the cost oflives”. It is, she added, “tooimportant an issue to let thebean counters take charge”.

Safety Award Winners 2009

PSE Kinsale Energy, Supreme Award winners of 2009


Kirby Group Engineering, Regional Awardwinner (Mid West)

RPS Consulting Engineers, President's Award (Construction) Pairc an Chrocaigh, President's Award (Small Size Organisation)

FEATURE

Regional Awards cont’d• Schrader Electronics (NorthernIreland)

• Laing O’Rourke Utilities Ireland(East)

• Cavanagh Foundries (Midlands)• Maveric Contractors (West)• SIAC Roofing & Cladding (South)• Obelisk Group (North East)• Cold Chon (Galway) Sligo (NorthWest)

• Kirby Group Engineering (Mid West)• Milltown Engineering (South East)

Construction• Mercury Engineering (buildingservices)

• Farrans Construction (civilengineering)

• Michael McNamara & Company(industrial/commercial)

• Lagan Asphalt/Lagan RoadMarkings (specialist contractor)

• Paddy Burke Builders (housebuilding)

New Entry Awards• Covidien (large size organisation)• St Joseph’s Hospital (medium sizeorganisation)

• IPL (Innovative Products) Group(small size organisation)

Distinction• Abbott Ireland Diagnostics Division• Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland• Clarochem Ireland• Cold Chon Galway (Chemoran)• Designer Group EngineeringContractors

• Diageo Global Supply

• Diamond Innovations IrishOperations

• Fingal County Council – CountyHall

• Fingal County Council – EstuaryRecycling Centre

• Greenstar• Hertel Ireland• Integrated Utility Services• JRE Group Engineer & Contractors• McInreney Homes/Contracting• Naas General Hospital• Oran Pre-Cast• Patrick Lynch (Electrical Engineers& Contractors)

• PM Group• Roadbridge• Roscommon County Council• Schering-Plough (Avondale)• WYG Ireland

Highly Commended• BAM Building• BAM Civil• Bristol Myers Squibb Cruiserath• Cagney Contract Cleaning• Commission for CommunicationsRegulation

• H A O’Neil• Irish Asphalt• Irish Bulk Liquid Storage• James Elliott Construction• Kirby Group EngineeringAlstom/Aghada CCGT Project

• Lagan Cement• Leisure World Cork• Microsoft Corporation• P Elliott & Co• Pierse Contracting• Road Maintenance Services

• T Bourke & Co• Tech Group• Wyeth Newbridge

Certificate of Merit• Abbott Ireland Vascular Division• B/E Aerospace (UK)• Collen Construction• Cordil Construction• Eli Lilly SA – BiotechnologyManufacturing

• Griffin Brothers Contracting• GSH Ireland• Hegarty Demolition• Johan Collins Mechanical Services• Kilcawley Construction• KN Networks Services• Lagan Bitumen• Lagan Tile• LM Developments• Lynch Group• Management & Construction• O’Connor Sutton Cronin• O’Sheas Electrical• Padhraic Moneley Civil Engineers &Contractors

• PEPSI Co Ireland• Rotary M&E Services Ireland• Sky Partner Handling• Skyway• Society of St Vincent de Paul (Dublinregion)

• Univar Ireland

President’s Award (Roll of Honour)• Benedict Daly• Michael Henry

Recognition of Special Services• Trevor Montgomery

FEATURE


We are all aware of theconsequences of fallsfrom height and from anearly age we learn toavoid the hazardous areasfrom where we may fall.

Some people never get over afear of heights and gothrough life avoidingsituations that involve anuncomfortable height. Forthose of us that may have towork at height we must payrespect to the phenomenonknown as “Gravity”.

Gravity is a force ofattraction between objects. Itis a critical hazard thatindustry has to face in its dayto day operations. Gravitycannot be isolated,segregated or reduced andcannot be touched, heard orseen. On the positive side,gravity keeps us well andtruly on firm ground.

Falls from height account forapproximately 50% of allfatalities in the ConstructionSector, and is a leading causeof severe injuries across mostsectors.

The definition of work atheight should be amended incompany safetydocumentation and safetytraining to take into accountthe requirements of theEuropean Council Directive2001/45/EC. The resultinglegislation being the Safety,Health and Welfare at Work(General Application)(Amendment) Regulations2007 Part 4. Work AtHeight.

What is classed as work atheight? The definition I use is:“Work in any place includingaccess / egress, from which aperson could fall a distanceliable to cause personal

injury” this would includefalls into chambers, pits etc.below ground level. It doesnot include permanentStaircases in a building.

What is a Safe place of workwhen dealing with work atheight?A safe place of work can bedescribed as a location whereyou don’t need to use or addany additional equipment toremove the risk of a fall fromheight. If you are required toadd or use additionalequipment to address the riskof a fall from height, then, bydefinition, it is not a safeplace of work.

In providing a safe place ofwork, collective controlmeasures (i.e. EdgeProtection) must always takepriority over personal controlmeasures (i.e. Safety Harnessand Lanyards). Collectivemeasures protect more thanone person at any one timeand require no action by theuser to work effectively. Therisk of a fall is eliminatedand therefore a rescue plan,rescue equipment and trainedrescue personnel are notrequired.

Obviously, the design stage iswhere collective measureswould be most efficientlyincorporated into anystructure. In my experiencethis is not always the case. Ireceive calls from employersregularly asking for solutionsto work at height issues.These range from flat roofbuildings with no effectiveprotection to safe access formachinery maintenance andinside buildings. Eachsituation has its ownparticular hazards whichmust be addressed to enablethe creation of a safe place ofwork.

The first question is can we

eliminate the need to work atheight? Not always an easyoption, however, it ispossible. An example,implemented recently by aclient, was where an existingten metre fixed access ladderwith a cage was replacedwith a staircase leading to arailed platform. Thisstaircase means work atheight hazards no longerexist for staff working on theten metre high platform.This solution was promptedby the review of thecompany’s work at heightrisk assessment.

Where collective measuresare not possible, restraintsystems can be used. Thissystem prevents the userreaching a fall hazard zone.Therefore, no fall is possiblewhich eliminates therequirement for rescue. Theanchorage requirements forrestraint systems are not asonerous as those for fallarrest system.

Fall arrest systemsWhere restraint is notpossible, fall arrest systemscan be used. However, asmentioned previouslycollective measures mustalways be given priority overpersonnel protectivemeasures and PPE must onlybe used as a last resort whencollective measures aredeemed insufficient inprotecting an employee.Fall arrest systems onlyoperate when a worker hasfallen from a height. Theyare designed to arrest a fallbefore the user reaches thenearest point of impactwhich may not necessarily bethe ground. Pipe racks andcable trays etc. may be usedbelow the working area.These pose a serious hazardto the user; therefore theimportance of clearancefrom the point of impact

cannot be overstated. Swingfalls and suspension traumamust always be addressed atthe training stage.

When Fall Protection PPE isused, you must ensure theuser is properly trained in thecorrect use, inspection andfitting of the equipment. Arescue plan must be in place,this must include anappropriate rescue kit andtrained rescue team. Allequipment must be inspectedby a competent person atregular intervals and pre useinspections must be carriedout by the user.

This also applies to theanchorage points. • Remove all faultyequipment from site.

• Do not use any equipmentthat fails a pre useinspection.

• Never allow D.I.Y repairsto equipment.

For further information onwork at height, please see thework at height regulationsavailable from the Healthand Safety Authority website,www.hsa.ie.

Des Brandon. Managing Director of TBrandon Agencies Ltd. Member of EuropeanStandards Committee(CEN) for Fall ProtectionEquipment.

Safety and Working at Height

Des Brandon

FORUM


Gavin Lonergan, Head ofCommunications with theHealth and SafetyAuthority, writes aboutthe new Manual Handlingand People HandlingInstruction trainingstandards.

New manual handling andpeople handling instructiontraining standards haverecently been developed bythe HSA in conjunction withFETAC (Further Educationand Training AwardsCouncil). The developmentof these new standards isonly one element of aproposed new manualhandling training system tobe rolled out over the nexttwo years.

BackgroundA review of manual handlingtraining in Ireland, whichincluded a survey of trainingproviders and a publicconsultation process,concluded that there was aneed for new trainingstandards and a system orprocess to quality assuretraining providers whodeliver manual handling orpeople handling instructortraining programmes.

The review identifiedvariations in the consistencyof manual handling trainingand the skills of those whodelivered training. It alsohighlighted a need for clearmanual handling instructionstandards and a system orprocess for registration oftraining providers.

In June 2006 a ManualHandling Training AdvisoryGroup chaired by FrankPower, Projects Manager wasestablished by the HSA.Since then the group hasworked in conjunction withFETAC on the developmentof the new Manual HandlingInstruction Standards.

Main Elements of NewStandardsWhen the Manual HandlingTraining Advisory Groupwas set up, it was primarilyfocused on the developmentof standards. However, as thework of the group evolved itbecame clear that there werea number of elements in thedevelopment of a newmanual handling trainingsystem including:• Development of two newFETAC Level 6 SpecialPurpose Certificates forManual HandlingInstruction and PeopleHandling Instruction.

• Agreement on a policy onthe need for FETACRegistration for TrainingProviders who currentlydeliver Instructor TrainingProgrammes.

• Agreement on a validationprocess to be used byFETAC to determine ifnew Instructor trainingprogrammes submitted areconsistent with therequirements of therelevant Level 6 standard.

• Agreement on a process forRecognition of PriorLearning for existingInstructors.

Development of NewStandardsUnder the new system, it willbe expected that all newmanual handling or peoplehandling instructors willattain a FETAC level 6Specific Purpose Award. Thetraining programmes forthese FETAC Level 6 awardscan only be delivered by aFETAC-registered trainingprovider.

Registration of TrainingProvidersRegistered training providersare responsible for deliveringcourses based on FETACstandards and for providingfair and consistentassessment of learners. Aspart of the new system,

training providers who wantto develop a FETAC Level 6Instruction trainingprogramme will need toapply to become qualityassured FETAC-registeredtraining providers. TheFETAC website atwww.fetac.ie outlined theprocess required to become aregistered provider.

Training ProgrammeValidationAs part of the validationprocess, the FETAC-registered training providerwill have to submit anapplication that includesoutline details of theproposed trainingprogramme and assessmentmethodology. FETAC willassess the programme bycross-referencing it to therelevant Level 6 standardand, if everything is in order,FETAC will grant approvaland the training provider canthen offer the programme tonew candidates.

Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL)RPL is the process by whichprior learning is given avalue. RPL will be offered topeople across all workplaceswho currently providemanual handling or peoplehandling instruction.

TimeframeIt is expected that the newstandards will be approvedbefore the end of this year.In the first half of 2010 theManual Handling TrainingAdvisory Group will workclosely with FETAC tofinalise arrangements for theRecognition of PriorLearning (RPL) process. Itwill take time for everyone tounderstand the differentelements of the new systemand the Advisory Group isconscious of this fact andwill make every effort tomanage the implementationof this new system in anorganised fashion.

There will be a phased intransition period of twoyears where the HSA willrecognise both new FETACInstructors and existingInstructors. This is to allowtraining organisationsbecome registered withFETAC and to allow existingManual Handling Instructorsgo through the RPL process.By 2012 it would be expectedthat all Manual or PeopleHandling Instructors willhave a FETAC level 6 Awardin Manual or PeopleHandling Instruction.

For further information visitwww.hsa.ie or www.fetac.ie.

Update from the Health and Safety Authority

FORUM


IOSH Ireland is making thevoice of health and safetyprofessionals heard, andthere’s plenty more tolook forward to.

Health and safety can be alonely business. Manyorganisations have only onehealth and safetypractitioner, andgeographical location alonecan make it difficult to shareexperiences and discuss ideaswith other professionals. Butin the work of thesepractitioners, the safety ofemployees is at stake, and it’scrucial that they can gettogether and share bestpractice with each other.

Organisations like theInstitution of OccupationalSafety and Health (IOSH)play a vital role here – andthere’s ample evidence ofthat in Ireland. Since it wasfounded, IOSH Ireland hasgrown from a handful ofmembers to almost 2,000. Itnow covers five districts andfive specialist sectors so thatevery member has a localgroup where they can help tomake the voice of Ireland’shealth and safety communityheard. The past few monthshave given us a lot to beproud of, and there’s alsoplenty to look forward to aswe continue to raise theprofile of health and safetyand share good practice.

Making a markIreland’s health and safetypractitioners are trulymaking their mark, with twoIOSH Ireland membersreceiving significant honoursover the past few months.

Herbert Mulligan receivedIOSH’s highest award whenhe was named Safety Personof the Year at Dublin’sMerrion Hotel in October. AChartered member of IOSH,Herbert is founder and editor

of leading Irish health andsafety journal, Health andSafety Review, as well asbeing a tireless champion ofthe profession on thelecturing and speakingcircuit.

In September, MartinO’Halloran, chief executiveof the Health and SafetyAuthority and one ofIreland’s first ever health andsafety professionals, wasmade an Honorary Vice-President of IOSH.

“I am very pleased to behonoured by such a wellregarded internationalorganisation,” said Martin.“I remain committed to theimprovement of health andsafety performance in Irishworkplaces and to contributeto the setting of internationalstandards.”

Sharing ideasThat commitment is clearlyshown in the events IOSHIreland is organising over thecoming months. MartinO’Halloran will be amongthe speakers at ‘Work inprogress!’, the 14th annualconference of IOSH Ireland’sSouthern District in Cork on18 November. Theconference will exploreimportant developments inworkplace health and safety,including protectingvulnerable employees,workplace transport, gettingyour point across in safetytraining, fire safety and drugtesting.

This is the type of event thatcan be invaluable to safetypractitioners, transport andfleet managers and safetyrepresentatives – in fact, toanyone interested in health,safety and welfare. Itpromises to be a great event,and all are welcome.

IOSH Ireland members can

also look forward to a seriesof CPD workshops. WesternDistrict members can takepart in the event in Limerickon 25 November, whichincludes three workshopsessions, each limited to 20participants. Sligo plays hostto a CPD workshop for theNorth Western District on 26November.

The year seems to be flyingby, and the 2010 IOSHIreland Branch AnnualConference is on the horizon.The conference will be heldon 23 June 2010 in theRadisson Hotel, Galway, agreat location with easytravel access both by roadand rail.

Add your voiceThere’s an old saying thatevery one of us has a novelinside them – well, it’s alsotrue that every health andsafety practitioner has awealth of experiences thatcan highlight upcomingissues and support theirfellow practitioners.

IOSH Ireland is looking forhealth and safetyprofessionals who want toadd their experience andexpertise to the wealth ofinformation and supportavailable. We’d like to hearfrom IOSH members andother practitioners whowould be interested inspeaking at forthcomingIreland Branch, District andGroup events, including the2010 Ireland Branch AnnualConference. If you’reinterested, contact LarryShannon at [email protected].

Making connectionsAnyone looking at the IOSHwebsite lately will havenoticed that it’s beentransformed. IOSH Irelandhas a great new webpage onthe site, with pages for each

of its districts and groups.It’s a place to find out all thelatest news and events fromIreland, and over the comingmonths we’ll be includingmore features and interviewswith Irish members. Moregood news comes fromIOSH’s Connect e-bulletin,which will be including moreIrish news for IOSH Irelandmembers in the coming year.

Over the coming monthswe’ll continue to share newsand resources, and connectmembers through workshopsand events. There’s a lot tolook forward to as Ireland’shealth and safety communitycontinues to go from strengthto strength.

Going from strength to strength

Bruce Philllips, Chair IOSH Ireland


SIPTU’s Safety and Health Adviser, Sylvester Cronin, writes about the Politics of Risk Assessment

The 1st November 2009marked the 20th year ofthe introduction of theSafety, Health and Welfareat Work Act 1989.

The significance of theenactment of this legislationwas that for the first time inIreland we had occupationalsafety and health legislationthat applied and wasdesigned to protect 100% ofworkers in Irish workplaces.Prior to this only 20%(approx.) of workers werecovered, mainly in factories,construction, mines &quarries, etc.

The same date above alsomarks the 20th anniversaryof the establishment of theHealth and Safety Authority(HSA) where the inspectoratemoved out of theDepartment of Labour.This again was a significantdevelopment and the Boardof the Authority wastripartite in nature, followingthe progressive model of thethen European Community.

Trade Unions believed thatthe occasion should havebeen commemorated,tempered with the knowledgethat workers continue to bekilled, maimed and loose

their health because of work-related-reasons at needlesslyhigh numbers in Irishworkplaces as a result ofpreventable accidents andincidents. In the past 20 yearsmore than 1,200 workershave been killed needlesslyinside Irish workplaces as aresult of preventableaccidents, which representthe total of our officialstatistics for fatalities.

Some international bodies,such as the ILO andEuropean Agency for Safetyand Health at Work haveestimated, that the overalllevels of worker-deaths aremany multiples more, whenwork-related illnesses anddiseases are taken account of.These estimated figures arein the public domain for anumber of years now.

For 2001 the ILO estimatedin the report “Decent Work– Safe Work” that the totalwork-related mortality forIreland was 1,298. For 2003,the European Agency forOccupational Safety andHealth produced figures,again for Ireland thatindicated that the work-related mortality was 1,413.

If these figures are fairlyrepresentative of the realsituation in relation tooccupational safety andhealth we are possiblylooking at a total ofsomewhere in excess of21,000 work-related deaths inIreland over the last 20 years.

It is interesting to note thatfrom the period 2001 to 2003the working populationincreased by 3% whereas theestimated numbers of work-related mortality increased

by 9%. This should have setalarm bells ringing inIreland, but it seem that suchdire estimates are ignored asthere is no consequentialpublic debate at all.Workers in Ireland surelydeserve better.

At a time when economiccompetitiveness is crucial fora whole host of reasons weseem to be completelyignoring the significant lossof productivity due to poorsafety and health standardsat the level of the workplace.It is broadly estimated thatthe cost of poor safety andhealth is costing the Irisheconomy around €3.6billion, which is equivalentto just over 2.5% ofnational income”.(Reference; “Report onEconomic Impact of theSafety, Health and Welfareat Work Legislation”(Indecon Report, August2006) A modest saving inthis area could be hugelybeneficial to our overstrained economy and save alot of the current strife that iscausing so many workers somuch pain.

In the year 2007 there were1.9m workdays lost due towork-related accidents,diseases and illnesses. Thiswas three-hundred andtwenty-two (322) timeshigher than the days lostthrough industrial strikes.

As any good safety andhealth practitioner will tellyou the cornerstone ofpreventing these massivework-related deaths,accidents, diseases, illnesses,etc is to have effective riskassessments, as is the legalobligation in Ireland and

throughout the EuropeanUnion. Of course aneffective risk assessment mustbe in writing, as is the legalrequirement, otherwise howcan anyone refer to it toensure its effectiveness, howcan it be reviewed, even inthe continuous improvementcycle that so many businessesdepend on for growth andprosperity?

It is almost self-evident thatall employers are notcarrying out their legalobligations. Instead withinthe EU there are efforts,afoot, to reduce this legalobligation to carry out ‘lifeand limb’ saving written riskassessments. There is nocase, business, social ormoral, to reduce therequirements for written riskassessments, judging by theunacceptably number ofworkers being killed fromwork-related factors wheneverything is taken accountof.

Workers must be aware thatdevelopments are takingplace to do away with therequirement to have writtenrisk assessments in SMEs’.Will it stop there? It is mybelief that workers shouldstand up for their rights anddemand that suchdeteriorations inrequirements to have writtenrisk assessment must not beallowed to take place.

Sylvester Cronin

FORUM

HELPLINE


Help on VDU/DSE assessments,pregnant employees and lone workingBrian O’Connor answers members’ queries.

Question 1I am the employer of anoffice which employs tenstaff. Most of the workcarried out in the office is infront of a computer screen.Can you please tell me if (a) Imust carry out a VDU/DSErisk assessment, and, (b) it issufficient to provideemployees with a checklistso they can carry out anassessment of themselves?

Answer 1(a) An employer must carryout an analysis of theemployee’s workstation ifthe employee:(i) has no choice but to use

the VDU to carry out his/ her work,

(ii) normally uses the VDUfor continuous periods ofmore than one hour, or,

(iii) generally uses the VDUon a daily basis.

This analysis must bedocumented and must becarried out by a competentperson. The analysis musttake account of schedule 4 tothe General ApplicationRegulations 2007 andincludes requirements onequipment, environment andemployee / computerinterface.

Employees who are entitledto an analysis of theirworkstation as above, mustalso:• be trained in the use oftheir workstation and begiven information abouthealth and safety factors,

• have periodic breaks orchanges of routine, awayfrom VDUs,

• be informed by theiremployer that they areentitled to an appropriateeye and eyesight test (ormay opt for either) beforeworking with VDUs and atregular intervals; if at anytime working with VDUsan employee experiencesvisual difficulties he or shehas a similar entitlement.

If, as a result of the eye test,the employee requiresparticular lenses for VDUwork then the costs ofminimum requirementframes and lenses must beborne by the employer.However, if the employeealready wears glasses tocorrect a visual defect andthese glasses are adequatealso for VDU work then theemployer is not liable asregards meeting the cost.

(b) A checklist may be usedto give the person carrying

out the analysis an initialidea of the risks involvedwith each workstation.However, a checklist is notsufficient to allow employeescomplete a physical analysisof their own workstation.This analysis must becompleted by a competentperson. A person is deemedto be competent if he / shepossesses sufficient training,experience and knowledgeappropriate to the nature ofthe work to be undertaken. Acopy of the completedanalysis should be given tothe employee for theirrecords and for furtherfollow up where required.This is to ensure that alloutstanding actions areaddressed.

For further information onthis topic please view theGuide to the GeneralApplication Regulations2007, Chapter 5 of Part 2:Display Screen Equipment.

Question 2I own a large supermarketand one of my employeeshas just informed me thatshe is pregnant. Am Irequired to take any actionto fulfill my safety, healthand welfare requirements?

Answer 2As an employer you mustassess the specific risks posedto the pregnant employeeand ensure she is not exposedto physical agents such asionising radiation orvibration, chemical agentswhich may cause cancer andanything else in theworkplace referred to in PartA of Schedule 8 of theGeneral ApplicationRegulations 2007, that willdamage either her own safety

or health or that of herdeveloping child. The nature,degree and duration of theexposure to any agent,process or working conditionmust also be determined.

The employer must appoint acompetent person to carryout this assessment. Acompetent person isdefined in the Safety Healthand Welfare at Work Act2005, Section 2 of Part 1 as,“For the purpose of therelevant statutory provisions,a person is deemed to be acompetent person where,having regard to the task heor she is required to performand taking account of thesize or hazards (or both ofthem) of the undertaking orestablishment in which he orshe undertakes work, theperson possesses sufficienttraining, experience andknowledge appropriate tothe nature of the work to beundertaken”.

The employer must assessany risk to safety or healthlikely to arise from exposureof a pregnant employee to anagent or working conditionlisted in Part B of Schedule 8of the General ApplicationRegulations 2007, thisincludes work withpressurisation chambers,rubella, toxoplasma, leadand lead substances andunderground mine work.Night work must also beconsidered when carryingout the risk assessment, ifthe pregnant employee has a

Brian O’Connor, NISO


medical certificate stating sheshould not perform any nightwork due to health andsafety reasons then theemployer must remove herfrom night work by eithertransferring her to day dutiesor granting her leave.

If the risk assessmentidentifies a risk to thepregnant employee, then theemployer must take thefollowing practical steps toavoid the risk:1.Adjust the workingconditions and/or hours ofwork. For example, if thepregnant employee is acleaner and it is a cleaningproduct that poses a risk, itmay be possible to replacethis cleaning product withone which will not harmthe pregnant employee orher developing child. Ifstep one does not removethe risk then follow steptwo.

2.Provide suitable alternativework. For example, if thepregnant employee's role isto stack shelves on theshop floor and thehandling of loads is posinga risk, the employer may

consider moving thepregnant employee to thecheck out area. If step twois not possible or does notremove the risk then followstep 3.

3.The employer should assistthe employee in receivinghealth and safety leaveunder section 18 of theMaternity Protection Act1994.

The employer, as well ashaving specificresponsibilities for pregnantemployees, also has specificresponsibilities towards postnatal and breastfeedingemployees. For furtherinformation please view theGuide to the GeneralApplication Regulations2007, Chapter 2 of Part 6:Protection of Pregnant, PostNatal and BreastfeedingEmployees.

Question 3I work in a joinery and usemachinery such as a rip saw,overhead router and edgebander. My employer andanother employee areusually away in the van allday fitting work tops, etc...

which are prepared in theworkshop. This means I amleft in the workshop on myown; taking account of therisks involved with themachinery is it safe for oneperson to be left working inthis environment?

Answer 3As per the Safety, Health andWelfare at Work Act 2005,the employer must undertakea risk assessment of theworkplace. The riskassessment will investigatethe hazards present, the risksinvolved with these hazards,the maximum severity posed,the frequency of exposureand the probability that thehazard could cause harm,controls already in place andadditional controls required.The employer will use thisrisk assessment to assess ifthe employee is at asignificantly higher risk whenworking alone.

Possible measures tominimise the risk to loneworkers include:• a mode of communicationsuch as a mobile phone,

• periodic checks,• automatic warning devices

such as a panic alarm,• instruction and training,• use of personal protectiveequipment,

• health surveillance, and,• safe systems of work.

Questions the employer mustask when assessing if it issafe for the employee to workalone are:• Can one person control therisks of the job?

• Is the person medically fitand suitable to work alone?

• Is the person competent towork alone?

• Is there additional trainingrequired?

• How can the person besupervised?

If the risk assessment showsthat it is not possible for thelone worker to carry outhis/her work safely then theemployer must providealternative arrangementswhich could includeemploying another person.

For further information onlone working please consultthe Health and SafetyAuthority website,www.hsa.ie.

HELPLINE

Twice a year for the pastthirteen years NISO MidWest Region has run atwelve week FoundationCertificate course inOccupational Safety andHealth.

Over this period NISO hassuccessfully awarded over2,000 students and takegreat pride that this is stillongoing. NISO Mid WestRegion has developed in-house courses for variousorganisations and welcomesany companies wishing toreceive training in thismanner.

At the recent Annual NISOand NISG Safety Awardspresentation, TrevorMontgomery, Vice-Chairman of the Mid WestRegion was presented withan award to acknowledge hisefforts, hard work andperseverance in securingHETAC accreditation forNISO run courses inLimerick Institute ofTechnology. The course wasdeveloped in response todemand from previousparticipants of courses andindustry to develop a thirdlevel Safety and Healthcourse.

There has been a significantlevel of demand fromIndustry for HETAC andFETAC accredited coursesover the last two years andthis demand is set toincrease to the extent thatthe majority of coursesprovided by NISO will beaccredited. TrevorMontgomery worked closelywith Ms Michelle McKeonBennett, Head of Science inLimerick Institute ofTechnology, to work throughthe HETAC requirements.The Higher Certificate inScience (OccupationalSafety and Health) (HETAC

Level 6) has been approvedby an external panel to runat Limerick Institute ofTechnology and the coursewill commence in January2010. It is proposed that thecourse will operate fulltimeby day and part-time bynight. The Mid West Regionis planning to conduct aworkshop in the winter inrelation to the HigherCertificate.

The Mid West Region have anumber of courses approvedby LIT for their LifelongLearning programme. Thesecourses include: • Occupational Health &Safety

• Basic Manual HandlingCourse

• Certificate of Competencein Workplace NoiseAssessment

• Health & Safety for theNon-Safety Specialist

• Risk Assessment & SafetyStatement Course

• Safety RepresentativeCourse

Please email NiamhMooney, Secretary NISOMid West Region [email protected] for furtherinformation regarding in-house training or theworkshop in relationto the HigherCertificate.

NISO Mid West RegionREGIONAL FOCUS


Trevor Montgomery receiving recognition from NISO President, Pauric Corrigan, and NISO Vice-President, Bill Kelly, for hiswork involving the HETAC course

North Tipperary

Clare

Limerick


Courses in NISO TrainingCentre, Ballymount, Dublin 12

Please keep an eye on our websitewww.niso.ie for forthcomingcourses and dates in 2010.

Safety Representative Course(Course length: 3 days)

Manual Handling Instructor &Assessor Course (Course length: 5 days, 3 days on week 1 and 2 dayson week 2)

Manual Handling Instructor &Assessor Refresher Course(Course length: 2 days)

Basic Manual Handling Course(Course Length: Half day)

Safe Pass Course (Course Length:1 day) December 11th

Occupational First Aid CourseFETAC Level 5 (Course Length: 3 days)

Occupational First AidRefresher/Re-CertificationCourse FETAC Level 5 (CourseLength: 1 day)

VDU/DSE Assessors Course(Course Length: 1.5 days)

NISO Safety & Health at WorkFETAC Level 5 (Course length: 40hours)

NISO Occupational Safety andHealth Certificate (in the regions)• Limerick Institute of Technology, 19 January 2010, [email protected]

• Institute of Technology Tralee, 27 January 2010, [email protected]

• Cork Institute of Technology, 28 January 2010, [email protected]

• GMIT Galway Campus9 February 2010,[email protected]

• Athlone Institute of Technology, Date in 2010 TBC, for moreinformation please [email protected]

Higher Certificate in Science(Occupational Safety & Health)(HETAC Level 6)Limerick IT, starting in January2010. A workshop will beorganised this winter prior to thecourse starting. For moreinformation, please contactNiamh Mooney on 061 483 260,or email [email protected].

Regional AGMsMidwest region15 December 2009 at 20:00 hrsin the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick.For more information pleasecontact [email protected]

Midland region17 December 2009 at 20:00 hrsin the Creggan Court Hotel,Athlone. For more informationplease contact [email protected]

North Western region18 January 2010 at 20:00 hrs inthe Mill Park Hotel, Donegal.For more information pleasecontact [email protected]

South Eastern regionDate to be confirmed, for moreinformation please [email protected]

NISO National AGM17 April 2009, NISO TrainingCentre, Ballymount, Dublin 12

NISO / NISG Health and SafetyAwards Submission Date to be confirmed

NISO/NISG All Ireland Healthand Safety Quiz24 April 2009, Belfast

NISO National Health and SafetyConference and Awards Ceremony30 September and 1st October,Midland Region

Southern Region AGMHeld on 24 November 2009 inthe Oriel House Hotel,Ballincollig Co. Cork. For moreinformation please [email protected]

Eastern RegionHeld on 3 December 2009 inCiytwest Hotel, Saggart, CoDublin. For more informationplease contact [email protected]

Western RegionHeld on 7 December 2009 in theOranmore Lodge Hotel,Oranmore, Co. Galway. Formore information please [email protected]

North Eastern regionHeld on 11 December 2009 inthe Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, CoLouth. For more informationplease contact [email protected]

EVENTS

National Irish Safety OrganisationUpcoming Events – www.niso.ie

NISO, A11 Calmount Park, Calmount Avenue, Ballymount, Dublin 12. Tel: 01 465 9760 Fax: 01 465 9765 Email: [email protected] www.niso.ie

corrib gas field niso conference helpline upcoming … · 2009 helpline upcoming events winter 2009...

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