What are MEWPs?

It’s a mobile machine, basically a Cherry Picker, Scissor Lift, Boom Lift or any other work platforms that are elevated off the ground.

 

Why do we use MEWPs?

They are quickly replacing the likes or ladders and scaffolds as a preferred method of access. It is used to move persons to working positions where they are carrying out work from the work platform and consists at a minimum of a work platform with controls, an extending structure and a chassis.

 

What should we be aware of when using MEWPs?

Sufficient training for operators is key, it’s not just about knowing how to use them but developing an understanding of the safety precautions to be able to anticipate any difficulties. Most often than not, employees are asked to use them without any formal training which does means not being compliant with safety regulations. MEWP operators should have attended a recognised operator training course and received a certificate, card or ‘licence’, listing the categories of MEWP the bearer is trained to operate.

 

How do the most fatal and serious injuries involving MWEPs arise?

Entrapment: operator can get trapped between part of the basket and a fixed structure

Overturning: the machine may overturn throwing the operator from the basket

Falling: an operator may fall from the basket during work activities

Collision: the vehicle may collide with pedestrians, overhead cables or nearby vehicles.

 

Why is training important?

Training helps prevent accidents which are costly to any workplace. It also increases safety awareness overall which brings commercial benefit in terms of having more educated and informed employees and it also enhances productivity.

 

Ayrton Group can provide you with the best quality MEWP training available on the market, Nationwide, almost instantly and at very competitive rates.

 

 

 

 

 

Myth 1: “Complying with health and safety costs a lot of money.”

Fact: Managing health & safety does not need to be expensive for most small and medium-sized businesses.  The truth is, taking safety measures through safety training and adhering to compliance laws may cost you some money upfront, but it saves you more money and lives in the long run. The costs associated with work-related injuries and illness — sick pay, fines, legal costs and repairs — depending on the accident and injury, have the potential to be astronomical in comparison to the initial outlay.

 

Myth 2: “Health and safety … that’s just common sense.” 

Fact: Your common sense will only take you so far and that depends how good it is in the first place! But seriously, it might go a long way in keeping you relatively safe in your daily activities outside of the workplace and critical thinking is important in assessing hazards and risks in your workplace. However, the hazards and risks your employees face on the job are trickier and the consequences are more severe than what you confront on an average day. Carrying out the right safety training goes a long way in preventing accidents from occurring.

 

Myth 3: Manual Handling training, sure that’s been told how to lift a box properly!

Fact: If it was that easy no one would be getting injured in the process! Manual handling training is not necessary for all staff, and is not a one-size-fits-all type of course. Training needs to be specific and relevant to the tasks carried out by employees. For example, employees whose job includes moving heavy barrels around a warehouse need training that reflects exactly that. In fact, sending workers whose only ‘manual handling’ involves lifting light loads at waist height to a manual handling training would indeed be a waste of time!

 

Myth 4: “Accidents just happen — you cannot create a hazard-free workplace”

Fact: Research shows that over 99% of all accidents are preventable. Safety is an action word and requires you to do something through leadership. All workplaces should be targeting zero injuries and whilst situations do change over time which makes it difficult to identify and control hazards, all that means is your workplace safety efforts must be disciplined and diligent. Our moto is ‘Know Safety, No Accidents’ and trust us it is true!

 

Myth 5: “My employees are just careless.”

Fact: The cause of almost all workplace injuries and illness is unsafe practices. The only way to avoid them is through safety training, supervision, and other system changes.

Employees do unsafe things because either they don’t know their behavior is unsafe or they may perceive a payoff for their unsafe behavior (such as a temporary gain in production speed). You have to address safety regularly and consistently. Safety is not a one-shot deal but an ongoing, daily effort.

 

Myth 6:  If I work in an office, I won’t get Injured

Think again! Working in an office environment can put stress on both the mind and the body. Working indoors, in a seated position all day, can lead to a whole host of injuries, including: back and neck pain, vision strains and pain in the hands and wrists. There are a host of hazards that could be lurking in your office, such as tripping over a piece of furniture, electrical wires, loose carpeting or slipping on wet floors and event using a chair in place of a ladder.

Know Safety, No Accidents

November sees Men’s Health Awareness Month, led by The Movember Foundation; a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. You can read more about it here

Today, we write about mental health which is a key focus for men this month. Men experience worse longer-term health than women and die on average six years earlier. In addition, poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year.

Everyone’s job is stressful in its own way, whether you are office or site based, but what makes the difference is the way you respond to these situations. Also more physically demanding jobs like working in construction can more often than not be associated with more physical affects on our health and the affects on our mental wellbeing gets forgotten.

It’s normal to get stressed or down over work issues, we’ve all been there. But we sometimes need to take a step back and look at how we respond to stressful situations, to avoid it affecting our mental wellbeing.

Here are 5 stress busters to help you get through the day happily and stress-free!

1. Label your feelings. Sometimes, just admitting your feelings can calm you down. Try to figure out what that negative emotion is and just boil it down to two words. Thinking to yourself “I’m overwhelmed” or “I’m frazzled” can surprisingly go a long way into calming yourself down. Also focus on the positive aspects of your day, even if they’re only small, to lift your mood and help you focus on other problems.

2. Take a breath. Yes this might seem like an obvious one, but it’s important to breathe slowly & deeply. Before reacting to the next stressful occurrence, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. If you have a few minutes, try out a relaxation technique such as meditation.

3. Grub. Food glorious food! Now we don’t mean go out and buy a box of donuts (although that’s definitley an option!) but sometimes, stress can be seriously intensified by certain mundane things—like taking care of your physical needs. If your
blood sugar level is low, eating can help turn your bad mood around after just a few bites. Fatty acids and spicy foods might even help a little extra. Go out and buy your favourite lunch, it will help big time!

4. Laugh out loud! We all know laughing can put us in a better mood, but it’s a better stress cure than you may realize. Studies show that people who laugh the “most heartily,” show bigger drops in stress levels. Laughter really is the best medicine, and while it isn’t always possible to plop down on the couch and watch your favorite comedy, you can surround your self with upbeat, positive and comedic people when feeling the crunch of stress.

5. Run and Exercise. Yep, would be everyone’s first choice. Going hell for leather on a treadmill isn’t everyones cup of tea, or doing that gym class your mates keep going on about isn’t for you. BUT exercising is good for the body AND mind. Exercise prepares your body for stress, because your body thinks you’re in a stressful situation. So, your brain releases chemicals to help fight that stress, which is why you feel that endorphin high after you’re finished. Even if it’s short, get a little exercise in and you’ll feel much better.

 

Its International Stress Awareness Day so its time to take stock of stress management in the workplace and the affect on our overall wellbeing!

We are all partial to a stressful day there here and there. It is important to realise that stress is just part of life, some stresses are motivating however some stresses can really impact your work in a negative way! We all have different tolerances levels when it comes to dealing with stress and our coping abilities vary.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a button or switch that can turn off those stress feelings once they start simmering but here are a few tips we can recommend when you feel like you want to take a few minutes out of your work day to de-stress and help alleviate those negative feelings! By doing so, your mind will re-centre and your abilities will thrive.

Coping with work related stress:

Some people thrive on the stimulation of stress however it can be quite debilitating for others! These are the factors to consider:

In the incidence of stress, control strategies are methods that can be used to reduce the incidence. Examples of control strategies include:

So there you go, a few things to remember when you start feeling stressed at work! Enjoy a stress free working day and don’t forgot to check out the incredible stress management courses we provide here at Ayrton on https://www.ayrton.ie/course/stress-management/.

Check out http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Occupational_Health/Work_Related_Stress_A_Guide_for_Employers.pdf for more information on work related stress.

 

 

Construction Safety Week runs this week, October 23 rd – 27 th, and each day Ayrton is bringing
you tips, information and advice across various sectors of the construction industry. You can
read more about Construction Safety Week here.

Today, we bring you a collection of Plant and Machinery FAILS. One or two may seem
humorous, and give you a bit of a chuckle, some will make your jaw hit the floor, and you might
think "this would never happen to me"…. but it is important to know what has caused these, and how to avoid them!

https://youtu.be/k1IgTzIC_wQ
https://youtu.be/qUiW6ENN4_g
https://youtu.be/3jqGOlo1KtY

According to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), on all construction sites on which
transport vehicles, earth-moving or materials-handling machinery or locomotives are used, the
project supervisor for the construction stage shall ensure that –
(a) safe and suitable access ways are provided for them
(b) traffic and pedestrian routes are so organised and controlled

Among the issues to be taken into account are:
Size of site
Location of site
Number of vehicles on site
Access and egress from site
Pedestrian routes on site
Number of workers on site
Work activities i.e. proximity of excavations to vehicle access routes
Other site specific issues
For more detail on the above, and to speak with an expert on plant, machinery and site safety
training, contact Ayrton today.

Airborne dusts are of particular concern because they are associated with classical
widespread occupational lung diseases such as the pneumoconioses, as well as with
systemic intoxications such as lead poisoning, especially at higher levels of exposure. There
is also increasing interest in other dust-related diseases, such as cancer, asthma, allergic
alveolitis and irritation, as well as a whole range of non-respiratory illnesses, which may occur
at much lower exposure levels.


Whenever people inhale airborne dust at work, they are at risk of an occupational disease.
Overexposure to dusts causes disease, temporary and permanent disabilities and even
deaths. Dusts in the workplace may also contaminate or reduce the quality of products, be
the cause of fire and explosion, and damage the environment.
Examples of hazardous dusts in the workplace include:
-mineral dusts from the extraction and processing of minerals (these often contain
silica, which is particularly dangerous);
-metallic dusts, such as lead and cadmium and their compounds;
-other chemical dusts, such as bulk chemicals and pesticides;
-vegetable dusts, such as wood, flour, cotton and tea, and pollens;
-moulds and spores.

Asbestos is a mineral fibre, which is particularly dangerous, and is found, for example, in
maintenance and demolition of buildings where it had been used as insulation material.
Ayrton Group can provide its clients withprivate asbestos awareness courses, which will
provide attendees with broad understanding of the dangers associated with asbestos and
measures required to protect their safety. See HERE.

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals. Composed of millions of microscopic fibrils, the thin fibrous crystals can be released by abrasion and other processes. Although Asbestos mining has been around for over 4,000 years, and used in widespread insulation processes and building operations it is only in the last century that the severe health hazards associated with the material has come into light.

 

Prolonged inhalation of Asbestos fibres can cause serious and fatal illnesses including pneumoconiosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Concern with these Asbestos-related illnesses began in the early 20th century and escalated in the 1920’s. By the 1980’s and 90’s it eventually phased out and outright banned in most countries. The importance of Asbestos Consultancy remains incredibly important to this date and vigorous locating and eliminating of the material is essential to public health. Asbestos-related liability remains an on-going concern for many insurers, re-insurers and manufacturers.

 

 

Ayrton is one of Ireland’s longest serving Consultancy Service and Training providers. Ayrton combine specialist qualifications with over 25 years experience having undertaken surveys on projects of all sizes in the asbestos field. The company are members of “Asbestos in Materials Scheme” (AIMS) for the analysis of materials for asbestos fibres and the “Regular Interlaboratory Counting Exchange” (RICE) for airborne fibre counting and analysis. These schemes are required by the HSA “Practical Guidelines on ACM Management and Abatement” for Asbestos Consultancy companies as proof of competency.

 

 

For more information on Asbestos related courses visit https://www.ayrton.ie/safety-consultancy/construction/asbestos-awareness-courses/

By Melissa Hegarty for Ayrton Group

Fire safety is an incredibly valuable topic to understand when it comes to workplace safety and general safety in your day to day life. Without fire safety precautions, fire related accidents can have detrimental results. So here are a few things to remember when it comes to fire safety in your workplace.

Fire prevention strategies and fire risk assessments should include a full consideration of issues including heat, oxygen and fuel. An understanding of fire prevention methods is fundamental to all workplaces that may be susceptible to fire related risks. Identifying fire hazards can save someone’s life. These are sources of ignition/heat, fuel and oxygen.

Heat is generated by work processes and is an essential element when cooking is involved. When dealing with heat related fires you must control the source and keep it away from fuel if it is safe to do so. Heat safeguards include controlling ignition sources; ensuring sources of heat are attended and maintained according to safety requirements & regulations.

Oxygen is also present in the triangle of those ingredients necessary for fires to erupt. With the air we breathe constituting of 21% oxygen, in oxygen rich environments it is essential to maintain and regulate the environment to ensure fires do not erupt spontaneously.

Fuel is the final factor to be aware of when considering fire safety. In relation to fire, fuel consists of a flammable material. It is incredibly important to identify all flammable material in your workplace to ensure proper controls are put in place.

Knowledge on each of these causal factors are key to becoming further equipped to deal with fire safety issues.

Safety precautions in relation to fire safety include; practicing escape and evacuation plans, ensuring all smoke alarms are in working order and something as simple as knowing how to call the fire services. This is top line information of what should be known when it comes to fire safety in the work place. Take your fire safety seriously and visit  https://www.ayrton.ie/course/fire-safety-training-fire-warden-fire-extinguisher/ and book your fire safety course now.

To celebrate world colouring book day we asked everyone in the office to take the Ayrton logo home to their little ones to colour in what they thought the logo should look like! Take a look at these masterpieces:

In appreciation of Farm Safety Week 2017, this year at Ayrton we would like to send our nod of recognition to all those who engage in farm related work in a safe and aware manner. The farming and agricultural sectors remain one of Ireland’s most primary industries and makes up 6% of the Irish workforce.

 

 

The Health and Safety Authority estimates that it will spend €417,000 on farm safety initiatives in 2017, maintaining funding at 2016 levels. This initiative aligns with national efforts to combat farm related injuries and deaths!
According to the HSA a large proportion of logged workplace related injuries occur in agriculture. It is important to realise that Irish farms remain to this day one of Irelands most hazardous workplace environment with published official reports stating current Irish farm fatalities remain high, with 30 reported deaths in 2014.

 

 

The HSA provides us with the knowledge that unfortunately there is an increase in farm injuries since 2014 on Irish farms. It is important to stay farm safe and contribute to farm safety, so check out the vast selection of Farm Safety courses we provide here at Ayrton!

 

For more visit: https://www.ayrton.ie/course-category/farm-safety-training/

 

By Melissa Hegarty for Ayrton Group