Following Construction Safety Month in October, this month we will be looking at what is involved in safe lifting & loading as all lifting activities require a high level of competency and knowledge, and planning is essential. 

 

What is involved in planning a safe lift?

When it comes to safe lifting and loading, there are national standards in place through the National Standards Authority of Ireland. When planning a lift, it’s important that you are aware of the level of risk associated with the activity. As with all activities on a site, a risk assessment is a fundamental activity in reducing the risk of accidents taking place and is required by the HSA (Source). The key elements that should be considered  and questions you should be asking when planning a lift are:

When broken down into stages, the planning of any safe lifting operation can become relatively straightforward. 

 

What is the ‘Common Sense’ approach?

The stages of planning a safe lifting operation can be easily recalled using the ‘common sense’ approach. This is: 

 

What is load security?

During the Safe Lifting & Loading Month, the CIF also draws our attention to the importance of safe load securing and transportation. Loads carried in or on any vehicle need to be secured so that they cannot move or fall off or out of the vehicle. When moving at speed, these items can cause serious injury to occupants of the vehicle, other road users and pedestrians. 

According to the RSA, load security is a term that is used to cover load restraint and load containment. These terms can be defined as follows:

In addition to potentially causing serious injuries, unsecured loads can result in financial losses and damages to goods, property and machinery. Therefore, it’s important that Employers, Vehicle Owners, Loading & Unloading Staff, and Drivers play their role in ensuring that loads are transported safely. To learn more about Load Security, you can read this information leaflet from the Road Safety Authority. 

Safety should always be the top priority for those working in the construction industry, across all levels. At Ayrton Group, we offer a number of relevant courses including Slinger Signaller Training and Mobile Elevating Work Platforms – Scissors & Boom. Speak to a member of our team today about your business’s specific needs and the training courses we can offer to ensure your employees are fully equipped to undertake safe lifting and loading operations. Contact us here.

The hybrid workplace is here to stay, with many employees now working from home as part of their standard working arrangement. As part of the European Healthy Workplaces Campaign, employers are being encouraged to reassess and ensure ‘Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age’. 

With the right to work remotely now a widely recognised facet of workplaces, employers need to be aware of the health and safety challenges that this may pose to their workers. This week’s blog outlines some of the key elements that you should be aware of when considering health and safety risks in the hybrid or remote workplace. 

 

Health and Safety Risks in the Remote Workplace

Employers need to be aware of your legal obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 – 2021 in respect of remote working operations. The responsibility for safety and health at work rests with the employer regardless of whether an employee works remotely or at the employer’s premises.

 

1. Ergonomics

Employees working from home may not have the same ergonomic friendly setup as they would in the office, and in the more relaxed environment they may not be as aware of the importance of ergonomic check-ins. You can read more about our workplace safety consultancy services here. 

It’s important to also be aware of the danger of repeated strain injuries, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

2. Fire Safety & Electrical Hazards

Employees may use their own electrical equipment, which may not be properly maintained or suitable. This could lead to electrical shocks, damage to equipment and even fires. General Fire Safety should be practised including having a working smoke detector, a functioning fire extinguisher (and the knowledge of how to use it) and having an evacuation plan. 

 

3. Psychosocial Hazards

Managing employee’s stress levels and overall mental health is essential for all workplaces, and can be even more challenging for remote workers who face unique psychosocial hazards. In the standard on-site workplace, some common examples of psychosocial hazards include conflict, bullying, high demands, role confusion, low support and improper communication (Source). The addition of isolation and potential stress of working from home could lead to mental health problems and increased anxiety. 

 

Best Practices for Health and Safety in the Hybrid Workplace

Employers

 

Employees

 

As our workplaces continue to evolve, it’s important that employers stay informed and up-to-date on the health and safety challenges and opportunities that occur. Speak to a member of the Ayrton team today to find out how we can support your workplace – be it on-site, remote or hybrid – in achieving best-in-class safety standards. 

During Construction Safety Month, you might have heard a lot about ‘Critical Risks’ in the context of the construction industry. We are reminded of the importance of knowing your critical risks, having adequate controls in place to manage these risks and making sure that colleagues are aware of these risks. In our latest blog, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the most common critical risks. 

Safe Access & Egress 

One of the cornerstones of ensuring safe access and egress is to plan accordingly during the planning process, and not only if – and when – an issue arises. Some key elements to be aware of are to ensure that work areas are large enough to be safe and have adequate stability, ventilation, fresh air, temperatures and lighting. Both pedestrians, vehicles and machinery should be able to circulate safely and traffic routes including entrances and exits should be kept clear. 

All access areas must be kept safe and clear of debris – these including roofs, doors, gates, loading bays and ramps, for example. Any hazards that are present – such as holes – should be barricaded or covered, and a suitable means of access and egress – such as a ramp or stair – should be in place. 

Safe Control of Hazardous Energies 

Overground wires, underground cables and gas & water pipelines are some of the most common construction hazards, and they have the potential to cause serious damage and injury if not properly attended to. Contractors are responsible for managing and mitigating these risks. A competent person should review site records and utility drawings well in advance of works taking place in order to identify these risks, and liaise with the respective utility providers accordingly. 

Safe Use of Mobile Equipment

Vehicles and Mobile Plant is regarded as the greatest risk to pedestrians. With substantial blind spots on dozers, wheeled loading shovels and excavators, workers are at great risk of being hit or run over if they are in the operator’s blind spot. 

The employer or person in control of the workplace must carry out a risk assessment of workplace transport hazards, including an evaluation and assessment of the vehicles and mobile work equipment that are in use in the workplace. Pedestrian activity within the operational area should also be restricted. 

Safe Working at Height 

Working at height is the most common cause of fatalities in the construction industry. Some of the most dangerous falls occur at relatively small heights of 2 to 3 metres. Roof work, in particular, is a high-risk activity. Falls through fragile roofs and fragile roof lights are a common cause of serious injury. Before working at height, there are some simple steps you should consider: 

  1. Avoid working at height if it is reasonably practicable to do so;
  2. Where the work cannot be avoided, prevent falls using either an existing place of work that is already safe, or using appropriate equipment;
  3. Where the risk cannot be eliminated, minimise the distance and consequences of a fall by using the right type of equipment. 

 

All work at height must be thoroughly planned, risk assessed and organised to avoid, or at the very least reduce, the risks as low as reasonably practicable. The HSA advise that those in charge of the work: 

Safety by Example

Leadership is essential to every health and safety management system, as attitudes towards safety and health are determined by top management. Workers should be empowered to protect their own safety, health and wellbeing – as well as that of their colleagues. OSH systems need to function smoothly to be effective and should work in tandem with the overall management, rather than being a contradiction. 

 

The HSA detail two approaches to ensuring safe behaviours, which are used to influence or change existing behaviours to better focus on creating a safe workplace: 

  1. Behaviour based safety: focuses on the identification and modification of critical safety behaviours. This approach classifies behaviours which might lead to errors, regardless of whether accidents ultimately occur as a result. 
  2. Culture based approach: focuses on an organisation’s culture and climate. Safety culture refers to an individual’s perceptions, whereas safety culture refers to an employer’s beliefs and values. Cultural change approaches are more of a ‘top down’ activity and entail safe work practices, hazard control and incident reporting to drive a safety focus. 

 

At Ayrton, our consultancy team has considerable experience in the assessment and management of hazards across all types of workplaces and are continually up-skilling to provide best-in-class service. Contact us here to find out more.

Hazards associated with green jobs 

‘Green jobs’ are a relatively new description of opportunities that focus on environmentally friendly work activities. As the requirement to balance economic growth and environmental protection becomes more…, the number and scope of these jobs expands. As the sector develops and opportunities increase, so do the number of new risks associated with the activities. It’s important that as the green economy continues to grow, that green jobs are safe for workers as well as the environment.

 

What are green jobs?

According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, green jobs can be defined as ‘contributing, in some way, to the preservation or restoration of the environment’. The green economy is diverse, spanning a multitude of sectors, skills and specialisations. These types of jobs can include activities that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials, or reducing waste and pollution (Source).

 

Health and safety implications

While green jobs have numerous benefits for the environment and society, they may still come with some health and safety risks – the word ‘green’ does not necessarily mean ‘safe’ for workers who are employed in these jobs. As such, it’s important that proper consideration and assessment is undertaken within all workplaces. 

The types of (potential) risks associated with these emerging industries can be broadly defined as follows: 

 

1. Traditional Risks

People working in green industries can face health and safety hazards that are commonly associated and recognised in more ‘traditional’ workplaces:

 

2. New Risks

Besides the ‘traditional’ work-related risks, green workers could be exposed to new and emerging risks that may be associated with new technologies, processes, workforces and indeed substances or agents. 

In rapidly evolving green industries, workers and employers may face challenges related to inadequate training and knowledge gaps concerning new technologies and practices, increasing the likelihood of accidents and mistakes.

 

To ensure the success of green jobs while minimising health and safety risks, it is essential for employers and regulators to implement proper training programs, enforce safety protocols, conduct risk assessments, and provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).  A new combination of skills will be required to negate these risks (source). Continuous monitoring and improvement of workplace safety practices will contribute to a safer environment for those engaged in green jobs.

 

At Ayrton, our consultancy team has considerable experience in the assessment and management of hazards across all types of workplaces and are continually upskilling to provide best-in-class service. Contact us here to find out more.

As Ireland’s go-to provider of workplace safety training and consultancy, our experience and expertise is unrivalled. Over the past 30 years, we have supported our clients with best-in-class solutions, whether it’s advice from our consultancy team, training from our academy or people placement through our staffing solutions. In this month’s blog, we want to share some of that expertise with you, as we look at the most frequently asked questions we encounter. 

 

What’s the difference between a risk assessment and a Safety Statement?

A Safety Statement is a document that sets out an employer’s commitment to health and safety in their workplace, and how they are going to maintain this. A Safety statement should include the results of risk assessments, the company health and safety policy, the details (names and job titles) of those who are responsible for any health and safety matters, training records, and accident reporting procedures. To find out more about Safety Statements, click here. 

A risk assessment is a document that contains a three-step process:

  1. Identifying the hazards in the workplace that are under your control.
  2. Assessing any risks that are present as a result of these hazards.
  3. Putting measures in place to reduce the risk of these hazards causing harm.

Your Safety Statement, including Risk Assessments, should be brought to the attention of all employees in the workplace that may be exposed to any risks.

 

Who appoints the safety representative in an organisation, and how many should one have?

A Safety Representative is an employee who is elected by their fellow employees, whose main role is to represent them to management on all health and safety issues (Source).  

Section 25 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 entitles employees to decide on who their Safety Representative is and by agreement with their employer, how many they have. The number of Representatives should be proportionate to the size of the workplace, and should ensure that diverse work activities, departments, or specialised occupations are represented. 

On Construction Sites where there are more than twenty persons employed at any one time on the site, the project supervisor for the construction stage (PSCS) should facilitate the appointment of the Safety Representative(s). 

The Safety Representative has the right to inspect the whole or part of the workplace that they represent, investigate accidents and may make written or verbal representations to the HSA Inspectors – however they must not interfere with the scene of an accident. 

Employers have a duty to ensure that Safety Representatives understand their roles, and are allowed time for training without a loss of earnings. 

 

How many first-aiders do I need in the workplace?

This depends on the number of employees in the workplace and the industry you work in. The HSA recommends:

Type of Workplace Maximum No. of

Employees at any one time

 No. of Occupational

First Aiders
Factories, Construction Sites, Surface Mines and Quarries up to 49 1 if safety statement risk assessment shows it necessary
50-149 Minimum 1
150-299 Minimum 2
> 300 1 extra for every 150 employees or

part thereof
Underground Mines   1 for every 10 employees

or part thereof
Other workplaces

 

 up to 99 1 if safety statement risk assessment shows it necessary
100-399 1
400-699 2
more than 700 1 extra for every 300 employees or part thereof.

 

Employers must also provide first-aid equipment at all places of work where conditions require it and, apart from some exceptions, a first-aid room must be provided where appropriate. 

 

What are the most common causes of workplace accidents?

The top five triggers of non-fatal accidents reported to the Health & Safety Authority in 2021 were:

  1. The single most common trigger was manual handling (2,656, 32%) 
  2. Slipping or falling was the second most common cause of injury (2007, 24%)
  3. The third most common cause was the loss of control of an object, machine, or vehicle (931, 11%) followed by
  4. Aggression, shock, or violence (599, 7%) with
  5. Body movement leading to an external injury such as a cut or bruise closing out the top 5 (548, 6%).

According to the 2022 figures from the HSA, the leading causes of death in workplaces were falls from height, and the loss of control of a vehicle or its attachments. 

 

Do employers have an obligation to ensure the mental well-being of employees?

According to the Employment Equality Act (2015), employers are obliged to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including mental and emotional wellbeing. Mental health involves the emotional, psychological, and social condition of a person and poor mental health can cause issues for both the employee and the business overall.

Psychosocial hazards, or the “hidden workplace” are the aspects of work that can affect workers’ emotions, behaviours and neuro-hormonal reactions. Employers have a responsibility to manage the known Psychosocial Hazards in their workplace, which may include bullying, conflicting demands, lone working, shift working or job insecurity. To find out more about Psychosocial Hazards in the workplace, you can read our in-depth blog here. 

 

Do the same health and safety regulations apply to remote workers as to on-site workers?

Yes, if an employee is working from home, then the home is a workplace. It’s your responsibility as an employer to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all employees, whether they are working remotely, on site or off site in accordance with the remote working guidance documents from the HSA. Employers must provide a safe working environment for their employees, and in doing so will need to assess the risks and ensure appropriate controls are in place to safeguard workers. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working provides guidance for employers and employees. 

 

The scenarios listed above are by no means exhaustive, and it’s important to note that every situation, workplace and activity will carry its own unique risks. 

 

At Ayrton, our consultancy team has considerable experience in the assessment and management of hazards across all types of workplaces. You can speak to a member of our team today to discuss your business’ needs. Contact us here to find out more. 

 

Are you aware of the psychosocial hazards, or stressors, that are present in your workplace? If poorly managed, psychosocial hazards can lead to workplace conflict, distress, poor physical health or occupational illness among employees, and even long-term absence from work. Employers have a responsibility to manage the known psychosocial hazards in their workplace. 

 

What are psychosocial hazards?

According to IOSH, psychosocial hazards are “those aspects of the design and management of work, and its social and organisational contexts that have the potential for causing psychological or physical harm”. This may also be considered as “the hidden workplace” (Source) or the aspects of work that can affect workers’ emotions, behaviours and biochemical and neuro-hormonal reactions. All workers will be exposed to a combination of psychosocial hazards – some will always be present while others only occur on occasion. Similarly, some workers will come into contact with more psychosocial hazards than others – such as those who work alone, remotely, or do shift work. 

 The most common psychosocial hazards found within a workplace include: 

Work related stress caused by psychosocial risks, can result in a stress response that is a physical, mental or emotional reaction in the worker, potentially leading to ill health. It can occur after a critical incident or result from the build up of numerous incidents (workpositive.ie). However, it often occurs when a worker feels that the demands of their work exceed their ability, or indeed resources, to cope with the requirements (IOSH). 

 

What should I do as an employer?

As an employer, you will need to identify psychosocial hazards in your workplace in order to put in place controls to protect and support your employees. Following on from this, you will need to put controls in place for all of the identified hazards and keep a record of these procedures and policies. Communicating these changes with your employees will be of the utmost importance, along with ensuring that your management or supervisory team are trained and enabled to deal with psychosocial hazards. You should also consider protective support such as Occupational Health or an Employee Assistance Programme as a mitigating measure. As with many other workplace formalities, all issues or complaints brought to your attention or that of the management team should be dealt with and recorded in line with GDPR data requirements. 

 

What is a risk assessment for psychosocial hazards?

As mentioned above, your first step in managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace should be to carry out a risk assessment that will identify potential causes of harm. This will allow you to put in place control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm and will require the methodical identification of stressors. 

It’s important to note that stressors are usually embedded in a system of work, so identifying them properly will take time and competence. While not all areas of the work can be captured in every risk assessment, the key areas to be considered are: 

 

What other actions should be taken?

While the majority of actions to be taken will depend on your risk assessment, there are a number of common considerations that you should be aware of. 

A policy on workplace stress can be an instrument to educate and inform employees about stress-inducing scenarios in the workplace. This could lead to the consideration of a stress management programme which may assist employees in building resilience and ensuring that they are empowered to deal with stressful situations that may arise as part of their duties. 

A policy on workplace bullying should also be in place. The HSA has put together a Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work at this link. 

 

At Ayrton, our consultancy team has considerable experience in the assessment and management of psychosocial hazards in the workplace. If you require a risk assessment or support in devising a workplace stress policy, you can speak to a member of our team today. Contact us here to find out more. 

Many of us will be familiar with the year-round workplace safety risks of our workplaces, however there are a number of risks that are specific to times of the year. During the summer months, we see seasonal risks associated with hot, dry weather – particularly where work activities occur outdoors. Besides being a risk to your employees, uncomfortable working conditions can lower productivity levels. The following list recaps some of the simple things you can watch out for as the summer months settle in. 

 

Sun Safety 

Exposure to the sun should not be confused with heat. UV rays pose hazards to workers, particularly those who spend long periods of time working outdoors such as construction workers, by causing damage to the skin. Even in overcast conditions there is still a risk of exposure to UV rays, so taking precautions on a daily basis is an important habit to keep. 

Short term effects include sunburn which ranges from a mild reddening on the skin, to more serious burns that will blister and peel. Sunburn can also contribute to fatigue and dehydration. 

According to a recent IOSH report, one UK study found that the level of UV rays that workers are exposed to over a lifetime could cause non-melanoma skin cancer. In fact, the report states that more than 3,000 cases of skin cancer reported every year are caused by outdoor work in construction and other industries. Outdoor workers are at an adverse risk of excessive exposure during the summer due to the nature of their work, meaning proper protection from UV rays and sun exposure is extremely important. 

There are a number of precautions that should be taken to be Sun Safe with regards to workplace safety. Sunscreen should be applied on a regular basis, and this sunscreen should be a broad spectrum that protects against UVA and UVB rays (Irish Cancer Society). Bear in mind that sunscreen will wear off due to sweat so reapply as needed. Wearing light and loose fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible such as long sleeved shirts and wide brimmed hats and sunglasses can also protect your skin and eyes. 

 

Heat-related illness

It takes time to acclimatise to hot weather conditions, and very often in Ireland we see spurts of extremely hot weather and even heat waves. As these conditions can be unpredictable, it’s important to be aware of the dangers extreme heat can cause in the workplace. 

Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to regulate its internal temperature and overheats. There are a number of factors that will contribute to heat stress, such as the rate or intensity of work, humidity levels, hydration, and the weight or insulation levels of clothing. Some of the most common symptoms include poor concentration, heat rash, muscle cramps and fainting. Heat exhaustion can lead on from this if not treated, and symptoms could include headache, giddiness, nausea, damp skin and even severe thirst – a late and serious symptom. If these symptoms are not treated, heat stroke may occur. This is the most severe heat related disorder that occurs, and can even result in death if not detected and treated early enough. Symptoms to watch out for include chills, irritability, disorientation, rapid shallow breathing and fainting.  

Other dangers

Extreme heat and physical labour or exertion will increase the rate at which our bodies lose water, depleting hydration levels and thereby causing a health and safety risk. Symptoms include thirst, fatigue, muscle cramps, confusion, dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating and hot, dry skin.

Very often, visibility can be reduced due to glaring sunlight and steps should be taken to mitigate this risk. These steps should include the clear identification of work zones and the use of barriers surrounding them. If the work zone is on or near a road, a lower speed limit should be introduced, and workers should be equipped with the appropriate level of high visibility apparel. 

 

Summer safety tips  

Here are some simple workplace safety precautions you or your employees can take when working during the summer and hot weather. 

 

If you are unsure where to start with a workplace safety plan for the summer months, want to ensure your plan and processes are up to standard, or to fine tune and improve your precautions, you can speak to a member of the Ayrton Consultancy team today. Contact us today to find out more. 

Do you or your employees handle foodstuffs or products during your work duties? Food handlers have a legal duty to manage food safety and undertake relevant training – as set out by EU and Irish laws under Regulation (EC) 852 / 2004. The responsibility for the proper training of staff lies with the proprietor of the business, and the staff who are responsible for the maintenance of the businesses’ Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system must have received adequate training in this area. 

Whether you are a food supplier, food business owner, a manufacturer or even a customer, you have a significant role to play in food safety. Failure to follow the set standards can cause food to become contaminated, of which the consequences can potentially be fatal. 

Ayrton Group provides a range of training options for our clients within this sector, so one of our food safety and hygiene training courses will suit you whatever your requirements are. 

 

What is food safety?

Food safety is a term that refers to the practices that are observed during the handling, processing and distribution of food to ensure that contaminants that can cause food-borne illnesses are not present. It is the proper food handling procedures that are applied during the preparation, processing, storage and distribution stages of your food business. 

Effectively managing food safety requires knowledge about what can impact its integrity – such as contaminants (biological, chemical, physical) along the food chain.   

Recent data released by the World Health Organisation has estimated that an estimated 600 million people (almost one in ten) will fall ill after eating contaminated food every year, and at least 420,000 people die as a result of this. 

In Ireland, food law is enforced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) along with other state agencies including the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the HSE. The FSAI is an independent statutory organisation that ensures that food safety and hygiene standards are met in shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, market stalls, food stalls and fishing vessels (Source). If you operate a food business, the FSAI will send safety inspectors to test for contamination and to ensure that proper food safety practices are in place and are being adhered to correctly.

What is HACCP?

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, or HACCP, refers to the procedures that must be in place to ensure that the food you produce is safe (Source). These procedures should form the basis of a food safety management system, as they will allow you or your employees to not only identify but also control any hazards that could pose a danger to the preparation of safe food. It essentially allows food handlers to identify the common hazards and their controls, and to understand the role of adequate preparation in controlling hazards. 

The core principles of HACCP are: 

  1. Identifying Hazards
  2. Determine Critical Control Points 
  3. Establish Critical Limits 
  4. Establish a system to monitor control of the CCP 
  5. Establish corrective action to be taken 
  6. Establish verification procedures to ensure the system is working effectively
  7. Establish documentation concerning all procedures, along with records appropriate to these principles and their application. 

 

What are the benefits of this training?

In addition to the regulatory requirements of food safety training, there are a number of additional benefits that HACCP based procedures will bring to your business. The basics are avoiding food poisoning and contamination, thereby protecting your customers and providing you with a due diligence defence should anything go wrong. These procedures will save your business money in the long run, by increasing safety and quality standards, making a more efficient business process to produce safe food, and can assist in organising your staff by promoting teamwork and efficiency. 

At Ayrton, our Basic Food Safety Training Level 1 covers modules such as Personal Hygiene & Cleanliness; Modes of Transfer of Infection; Prevention of Food Contamination; Dangers of Food Contamination; Proper and Safe Methods of Food Handling and Protective Equipment to name a few. 

Find out more about Food Safety Training with Ayrton here, or speak to a member of our team today about how Ayrton can assist you. Contact us today to find out more.

Electricity forms part of our day-to-day lives, so it can be easy to forget or not be aware of the dangers it poses. All electrical equipment, whether it’s a computer or large machinery, can pose a hazard such as electric shock, burns, fire, and even explosion – and the risk of injury is strongly linked to where and how it is used. 

 

Electricity in the workplace

According to the HSA, there have been 40 electrocutions or deaths from the effects of electricity between 2001 to the end of 2020. Of those, 25 deaths were associated with a work activity. 

As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your employees are provided with the skills and knowledge to understand the risks associated with electricity and how to work with electrical equipment during their duties. 

You must ensure that extension cables, fixed leads (which are especially prone to damage), plugs, sockets and their connections are visually inspected and maintained, and if necessary replaced. An assessment should be carried out of any electrical hazards, including who could be harmed, what the level of risk is and how it has been established, and the precautions taken to control this. Your risk assessment should not only take into account the type of electrical equipment and how it is used, but also the environment in which it is used. 

While electricity can be extremely dangerous, there are simple precautions that you can take to significantly reduce the risk of injury to you, your employees and others around you. 

 

1. Prevention is protection 

The best way to ensure that you stay safe is to stay away from electrical hazards. An unqualified person should not interact with electrical currents that are greater than 50V under any circumstances (places of work generally have power supplied at 230 volt [HSA]). If you are working in the same area as an electrical hazard, you should maintain a safe distance, ensuring that any panels are shut and there are no exposed wires in your workspace. 

 

2. De-energise equipment or use lockouts or tagouts 

Exposed, live electrical parts should be de-energised in advance of any work on or near them. You can prevent accidents by isolating electrical energy and locking and tagging out the system, or parts of it. The purpose of lockouts and tagouts are to protect employees from electrical hazards and should be used when appropriate. 

 

3. Ensure safe use of electrical equipment 

Always be aware that the equipment you are working with carries an electrical current. Things as simple as plugs or cords should be respected – do not overstretch them, use them to hang other things from, or damage them with things like staples. You should also always unplug cords by pulling on the plug head, rather than the cord itself. 

 

4. Physical barriers 

Sometimes the simpler works just fine! Don’t overlook things like cabinet doors on electrical panels – these should always be closed. If an electrical hazard cannot be fully closed in, a shield, barrier or insulating materials should be used instead. Clear signage should also be used to warn employees of hazards. 

 

5. Beware of conductive materials

Remember that some tools, products or materials are conductive and require particular caution. For example, solvent and water-based cleaning materials, steel wool and metalized cloth are electrically conductive. 

In wet surroundings, unsuitable equipment can become live – and even make its surroundings live too. Things like cables, sockets and fitting should be robust enough and adequately protected for the environment in which they are placed. Machinery should have an accessible isolator switch to cut power in emergency situations. 

 

6. Look above for electrical wires

Live electrical equipment or parts can be above floor level and in many different cases, only accessible with a ladder or an elevated platform. Always ensure that the ladder you are using has non-conductive rails and ensure you stay at least 10 feet away from any exposed electrical lines. 

 

7. Be aware of flammable materials

Be aware of the conditions you are working in – if there are flammable vapours, gases or dust then electrical equipment that can cause ignition must not be used. 

In certain situations, qualified personnel may undertake measures to lockout and isolate electrical energy sources before potentially flammable materials may be used, or if the equipment is designed for use under these conditions. 

 

8. Qualified personnel

If you come across a live electrical wire, stay away, and if it is not being attended, you should immediately notify electrical safety personnel who should promptly put physical barriers in place. 

 

9. Electrical safety work practices 

Your business should have its own electrical safety work practices that can be issued to employees. 

 

10. And always remember… 

Electricity is not visible and live parts will not look any different from de-energised parts. You should always proceed with the assumption that any electrical part is live. Take precautions to keep electrical power on its own path, and protect yourself. 

 

 

At Ayrton, we offer training that will provide participants with an appreciation of the hazards that are involved when working with or in the vicinity of low-voltage electricity (<1000 Volts AC). Our course in electrical safety is intended for non-specialist attendees and covers topics such as the basic principles of electricity, electric shock, electrical system protection, live work and electrical equipment walkdown among others. Find out more about this programme here.

 

If you need to review your electrical safety risk assessment, or your employees are in need of Electrical Safety Training, then speak to a member of our team today about how Ayrton can assist you. Contact us today to find out more.

With 30 years of experience in the health and safety industry, we’ve heard our fair share of tall tales about health and safety.  Oftentimes, we hear that health and safety controls are “just an excuse for not letting things happen” – but it’s the opposite that is true: comprehensive health and safety planning and regulations allows for activities to take place safely under their guidelines. 

Keep reading to find out about some of the most common myths and misconceptions around health and safety.

 

Myth: Complying with Health and Safety is expensive. 

Truth: Yes, there is certainly a cost associated with conducting proper Health and Safety reviews, and implementing the correct procedures. However, when we weigh up this cost in comparison with the costs associated with accidents and injuries, it is more often than not far less expensive – and more productive.

If an employee suffers an injury during the course of their work, the business can lose out on productivity – being down a team member, the associated investigation costs, replacing the member of staff during their absence (including the cost of hiring & training this new team member) and any insurance-related costs and claims that might arise. The proper procedures are an investment for your business, rather than an expense.

 

Myth: Health and Safety means no fun. 

Truth: Safety procedures aren’t about stopping activities from happening, but instead making sure that they happen safely. Think about all of the fun and interesting activities that you can do – but with proper Health and Safety regulations in place. Would you do a bungee jump without knowing it was safe?  These regulations are in place to protect you and your employees.

 

Myth: Health and Safety is just a tick the box exercise and is a nuisance. 

Truth: Health and Safety is much more than a tick the box exercise! It’s there to protect you and your employees, and it should be taken seriously. While there can be a lot of paperwork or admin work involved in preparing documentation like Safety Statements and Risk Assessments, these activities are necessary to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the risks, responsibilities and correct reactions should something happen.

 

Myth: I work in an office. There’s no Health and Safety risks there. 

Truth: This is possibly one of the biggest misconceptions about working in an office environment. The typical office can pose many hazards for employees; most notably musculoskeletal issues, eye strain and hand and wrist pain. There are also risks of slips, trips and falls, electrical safety, fire safety, manual handling and even falls from heights. Every workplace – even an office environment – should have access to a competent first aider and safety officer, along with adhering to all workplace Health and Safety requirements.

 

Myth: This is mostly common sense, we don’t need training in common sense. 

Truth: While it’s true that some Health and Safety risks may seem obvious, in a panicked situation common sense doesn’t always register. This is where the proper training and knowledge can assist in having a plan that you can rely on. On top of this, there are many situations that you may not consider risks or even notice, that can cause serious issues or harm. This is where a qualified and competent Health and Safety officer or consultant is essential, as their experience and training can unearth these hazards and help you to put a plan in place to prevent them from happening.

 

Myth: Health and Safety tries to stop things from happening, and just tries to ban activities that we’ve always done. 

Truth: If safety procedures were designed with the intent of stopping things, we wouldn’t have the likes of ladders, wings, or even ice rinks. What Health and Safety procedures aim to do is to reduce the risks associated with the activities that we undertake. Your Health and Safety officer or consultant will aim to ask the right questions at the right time, to ensure everyone’s safety.

 

Myth: I use the gym, so I already know how to lift something heavy.

Truth: Just as with your workout, the correct technique when lifting something is essential in preventing strain or injury.  The situation in which you might lift in the gym is different to how you would approach something in a work situation. Did you know that a third of all workplace injuries reported to the HSA are caused by manual handling activities? Manual handling training covers any role that involves moving heavy loads and is important to help you to understand and minimise the risk of injury.

 

Myth: All of these procedures will just reduce our productivity. 

Truth: Health and Safety does not negatively affect productivity, in fact it will help to improve it. Having a Health and Safety plan in place will ensure that your workload is planned out efficiently and safely. This means jobs get done, and safely. What really impacts on your business’ productivity is staff being absent from their work due to injury or illness.

 

Myth: Safety equipment isn’t necessary, it’s uncomfortable and I can’t do my job properly while I’m wearing it.

Truth: While certain equipment can feel cumbersome to work in, remember that safety equipment such as helmets, goggles and gloves are absolutely essential in protecting workers from injury. These recommendations are in place for a reason and help to ensure your wellbeing, and your ability to continue doing your job without serious injury.

 

This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you are reviewing or implementing Health and Safety procedures for your workplace, you should always seek the assistance of an experienced professional. Our Consultants would be more than happy to assist you in assessing the needs of your business. Get in touch with our team today by email to info@ayrton.ie, or phone 01 838 5595 or 021 421 0331.