Safe, Seen and Supported. Highlighting Mental Health in the Workplace.  Alan White Wellness Consultant EazySAFE On World Mental Health day, it is important that we stop and reflect on the significance of such a day. A day when what was once a hidden and stigmatised topic are encouraged to be discussed in all walks of life. It is fantastic that such a day exists and that the conversation is becoming normalised. However mental health awareness…

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working from home

Hybrid Work Model GEMMA COLLINS DOYLE EHS Consultant EazySAFE In 2020 the world changed, in so many ways. While there were many negatives to what we have all had to deal with in the last two years, there is definitely some positives too. One of those positives (for most employees) was the ability to work from home.   As workplaces start to reopen, companies are finding that their employees are not eager to give up working…

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construction workers wearing masks and helmets

Understanding Safety: How to Approach Worker Consultation ANDY TILLEARD EHS Consultant EazySAFE Worker consultation is a legal requirement within Irish health and safety legislation so that employers can carry out their duties in law to communicate workplace hazards and to promote occupational health and safety. Communications is a key component of any safety management system (both from the top-down and from the bottom-up) for employers, employees and third parties to be involved with the exchange…

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handshake

Respect in the Workplace LISA QUINN O'FLAHERTY Solicitor Fitzsimons Redmond It is tempting for employers to draft a Bullying and Harassment Policy for their workplace, and then sit back in the hope that everyone will play nicely and get along. Unfortunately, human relationships are complex, and conflict is likely to arise in every workplace. It is the job of the employer to create a working environment where conflict is well managed, and a culture of…

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engineer meeting

Effective Safety Management: The Business Argument ANDY TILLEARD EHS Consultant EazySAFE Ireland has a good track record for accidents in the workplace. Data shows that Ireland has the lowest standardised incidence rates (per 100,000 employees) of fatal accidents at work for 2018 and averaged rates from 2015 – 2017 at 0.45 and 0.96 respectively. However, if you were related to any of the people who had been killed at work in these time frames here…

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man unloading boxes

Manual Handling GEMMA COLLINS DOYLE EHS Consultant EazySAFE Back injuries and back pain are something that most people suffer during their lifetime. A lot of the time, back injuries happen in the workplace. In fact, according to the HSA manual handling accidents are the most common accidents (2019) and these accidents usually cause back injuries. So, it makes sense for any company to focus on reducing all manual handling risks as much as possible to ensure employees are…

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smart ppe

Understanding Safety: What is smart PPE?  ANDY TILLEARD EHS Consultant EazySAFE PPE (personal protective equipment) has long been recognised as a useful tool in providing a barrier between a person and a hazard. We are all familiar with high visibility vests, hard hats and safety footwear which are probably the most common items of PPE used throughout the industry on a daily basis. Covid-19 has also raised our awareness of both PPE and RPE (respiratory protective equipment) in…

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stress at work

Hidden Anxiety, Knowing When to Take Notice   Alan White Wellness Consultant EazySAFE Amidst the many changes taking place in society at the moment, many of us are feeling relieved and excited to begin to get back to some form of normal living again. Heading back to the office meeting colleagues face to face again, socialising somewhat normally or even travelling abroad.   Being able to do the simple things in life will make a big difference to all of our lives, so…

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parents holding baby shoes

Returning to Work After Pregnancy LISA QUINN O'FLAHERTY Solicitor Fitzsimons Redmond There are a number of circumstances that may be in play when a worker returns to work after pregnancy. In some circumstances, the worker may have experienced miscarriage. There is no right to miscarriage leave in Irish law, but the worker may have taken sick leave to physically recover. Many employers offer miscarriage or bereavement leave to parents who experience this kind of loss. …

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ouvrier prenant des notes sur son bloc note

Risk Assessment GEMMA COLLINS DOYLE EHS Consultant EazySAFE We hear the term risk assessments bandied about all the time regarding health and safety. However, from my experience, many people are unaware of how important they are, what they are and how they really are the foundation of ensuring you are adhering to health and safety legislation and maintaining your health and safety management system.   In simple terms, a risk assessment is a thorough examination of what, in a workplace, could cause harm,…

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