Ken Walsh & Associates

22/10/2019

Safety watchdog to carry out inspection 'blitz' on construction sites nationwide

So far this year, there have been six reported construction-related deaths.

24/09/2019

Safe Pass Dates for October: 5th & 19th.

To book Tel: 086 2683481.

01/07/2019

Safe Pass dates for July are the 13th & the 27th.

Both take place at the Woodlands Hotel Waterford 8am - 5pm.

Booking is essential through 086 2683481

17/10/2017

Chainsaw Safety Training Advice

The major cause of timber related fatal accidents is being struck by falling trees or branches while felling trees. The need for proper PPE and operator competency are covered in our Chainsaw Safety Training Advice Information Sheet http://ow.ly/zIjV30fVEJD

Only use a chainsaw if you are competent to do so

08/10/2017

Check this out for scaffolding!!!

You pay peanuts you get 🐒

27/09/2017

15/06/2017

Company fined after fatal accident at Corrib Gas Tunnel site

Tuesday 13th June 2017 in the Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court Judge Rory McCabe imposed a fine of €300,000 on Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG.

The company, Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, contrary to Section 77(2) and Regulation 31(b) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007.

The case arose as the result of a fatal accident at Corrib Gas Tunnel construction site Aughoos, Co.Mayo. The 4.9km tunnel was constructed under Sruwaddacon Bay as part of the project to bring gas ashore.

On the 8th of September 2013 Mr Lars Wagner, an employee of Herrenknecht AG, received fatal head injuries when a pipe he was working under collapsed on top of him as a result of an over pressure event in that pipe system. The accident occurred in the gear chamber of a tunnel boring machine that was constructing the tunnel. Mr Wagner was engaged in maintenance activity at the time of the accident.

The Tunnel Boring Machine was in operation while Mr Wagner was in the gear chamber, contrary to the Tunnel Boring Machine manual that stated that maintenance work should only be carried out on a stopped tunnel boring machine.

The company (Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG) pleaded guilty to:
failure to manage and conduct their undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that in the course of the work being carried on, individuals at the place of work (not being their employees) were not exposed to risks to their safety, health or welfare, in that they failed to ensure that a Tunnel Boring Machine being operated in the tunnel was stopped operating while a person, namely, Lars Wagner, was carrying out maintenance work in the gear chamber of the said Tunnel Boring Machine; and
failure to ensure, when it was possible, that maintenance work on the chamber of the Tunnel Boring Machine, being work equipment within the meaning of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, was carried out when the said Tunnel Boring Machine was shut down.

Brian Higgisson, Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority said: “Maintenance operations can be dangerous and should always take place in a planned and controlled manner. The most important consideration is to make sure that work does not place anyone in danger, in this case the failure to follow safety procedures led to tragedy.”

15/06/2017

Health and Safety Authority construction inspection campaign to focus on occupational health

Monday 12th June marks the start of a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) campaign to reduce occupational health risks in the construction sector. Inspectors from the HSA will be visiting 250 construction sites, nationwide, over the next week with a particular focus on reducing exposure to carcinogens.

The inspection campaign will be addressing exposure to carcinogenic dusts such as asbestos, silica and wood dusts. There will also be a focus on raising awareness with construction workers of the danger of skin cancer due to sun exposure.

Carcinogenic dusts, including asbestos and silica, are one of the biggest causes of death amongst construction workers. International research shows that 40% of all occupational cancers occur as a result of work in the construction sector. The effects of exposure to these types of dusts can take years to materialise so employers tend to focus on accident prevention at the expense of less obvious health hazards.

Controls for construction dusts include:

- Using less harmful materials

- Using local exhaust ventilation

- Use of water suppression

- Use of appropriate Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE)

Specialist control measures are required when dealing with asbestos.

Construction workers are more exposed to the sun and therefore more likely to be affected by skin cancer. Information from the Irish Cancer Society’s Sun Smart campaign indicates that one in four skin cancer deaths involve outdoor workers working in either construction or farming.

For reducing the risk of skin cancer employers should:

- Limit exposure of workers to sun

- Provide barrier creams and protective clothing

- Ensure workers 'cover up' when sunny

- Provide information to employees on the dangers from sun exposure


Michael McDonagh, Head of Construction Policy with the Health and Safety Authority said, “During this campaign we want to increase the levels of awareness of occupational health issues in the construction sector and provide guidance on how to reduce risks. This can be done by introducing effective and simple solutions such as using water to supress dust and covering up on a sunny day.”

Further information is available from http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Construction/

Health and Safety in Construction pages from the Health and Safety Authority

01/02/2017

Check out cifjobs.ie

Constructions companies are pleading with expats to come home to fill job vacancies fuelled by an anticipated construction boom, writes Stephen Rogers in the Irish Examiner.

01/02/2017

Safe Pass Training dates for February are Saturday 11th & 25th. For more information or to book your place ring 0862683481

05/01/2017

Reduction in Ireland’s workplace fatalities welcomed by IOSH

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) Ireland Branch has vowed to continue supporting industries to cut workplace accidents after it was revealed there has been a 21 per cent reduction in fatal injuries.

There were 44 fatal workplace accidents in Ireland in 2016, down from 56 in 2015, according to figures released today by the country’s Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

Liam Howe, Chair of the IOSH Ireland Branch, welcomed the reduction, citing the combined efforts of the HSA and employers and workers at all levels of organisations, supported by the safety professionals of his and other IOSH branches and districts in Ireland.

He said: “It is a significant reduction and a good achievement. When looking at why there has been a reduction we must look at the work of the HSA and IOSH members in raising awareness of the importance of healthy and safe working practices. But it is also down to the workers who understand risks and the consequences of ignoring them.

“While there has been progress we must strive to continue this trend. As a branch we will continue our support of industries and the HSA as they endeavor to protect workers.”

The majority of sectors saw a reduction in fatal injuries in 2016. There were nine fatalities in construction, down from 11 in 2015, while there was one in transportation and storage, compared with four in the previous 12 months.

Nearly half of the deaths occurred in agriculture (21). This was a rise from 18 in 2015, but is well below the shocking total of 30 in 2014.

Mr Howe described the increase in fatalities in agriculture a “setback” but said that IOSH members in Ireland must and will continue their efforts to educate farmers and workers in agriculture about the risks and how they can be managed. IOSH has held a number of events around farm safety recently, and more are planned.

“Agriculture is a high-risk industry, but that doesn’t meant employees shouldn’t be protected,” said Mr Howe. “After the large reduction in fatalities in 2015, this increase is a setback, but we will do all we can to carry on raising awareness in an effort to reduce accidents.”

The highest number of fatal accidents happened in County Cork, with eight people dying. There were four deaths in Kerry and Meath; three in Kildare and Tipperary; two in Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Mayo and Wexford; and one in Cavan, Longford, Louth, Sligo, Waterford and Wicklow.

HSA Chief Executive Martin O’Halloran said: “We welcome the reduction in the number of work-related fatalities. It is especially important that as the numbers at work increase, accident rates are moving in the opposite direction. Nevertheless we must not forget the many families that experienced devastation and tragedy in 2016. It was a time when they lost loved ones due to events that should have been prevented.”

05/01/2017

Free Lean Thinking in Construction Seminar at WIT

The Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Lean Enterprise Excellence Group will continue its Lean Practitioner Seminar Series, with a Lean Thinking in Construction Seminar in January 2017.

The Lean Practitioner Seminar Series are free monthly events which bring together practitioners in lean enterprise, operational, and process excellence to share knowledge, experience, expertise, and good practices.

On Wednesday 18 January, speaker Aidan Clancy, who is the Commercial Director of Clancy Homes, will address the issues regarding Lean Thinking in Construction.

As an enthusiastic supporter of all things Lean, Aidan laid the foundations for Clancy to embark on its Lean journey. Aidan joined the business in 2009 and has been involved in many aspects of the company’s continued success, with a particular focus on collaborative work practices. Clancy is currently involved in many high-profile construction projects, including enabling works for the new National Children’s Hospital and the €200m+ Facebook Data Centre in Meath.

Aidan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Limerick and in 2016 he completed the Executive MBA at WIT, obtaining a first class honours. Aidan is Commercial Director of Clancy Homes, a newly-formed sister company focused exclusively on housing delivery.

The Lean Practitioner Seminar is being delivered in association with Waterford Chamber Skillnet.

Event: Lean Thinking in Construction

Date: Wednesday 18 January 2017

Time: 18.00 – 20.00

Booking: [email protected]

Location: Room F.06, WIT Main Campus Cork Road, Waterford.