Although many coronavirus restrictions have eased, regulations and guidance remain in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Continue to protect yourself and others by following public health advice and find out the rules on what you can and cannot.
It is up to companies to develop their own Covid specific Risk Assessments, Safety Statements and protocols in line with government guidance available.
Government announces removal of most of the public health measures in place.
Measures removed
Sectoral protective measures removed include:
* Formal requirements for physical distancing in general (2m)
* Physical distancing requirements in hospitality (table service, l metre between tables, 6 per table)
* Seated only at indoor events
* Pods of 6 for indoor activities
* COVID pass requirement across all domestic venues/activities requirement to maintain contact details
Mask Wearing
Mask wearing still required in following settings:
* Public transport
* Retail premises
* Healthcare settings
* Workers in cusotmer facing and food preparation roles
Key messages
If you have any symptoms – isolate and get a test.
If you are a close contact follow the guidance on the HSE website. The best way to keep yourself safe is to ensure you are fully vaccinated and have your booster continue to wear masks in appropriate settings.
Individuals may still have concerns about themselves or their family members. They should continue to assess their individual situation. There are ways to reduce risk, especially for those who may be more vulnerable.
For further guidance go to the Risk Aware site.
Source and further information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/OfcOd-government-announces-that-most-of-the-public-health-measurescu rrent ly-in-pl ace-ca n-be-removed/?ref err er= htt p://www. gov. ie/ en/ pu bl icati on/3 3 61 b-p ubl ic-hea lth-u pd ates/ #key-messages
Information correct as of February 10th, 2022
Business
You should continue to work from home where possible.
Employers should facilitate their employees working from home where practicable.
Employers that require staff to come into the workplace must complete a mandatory risk assessment.
Regular Rapid Lateral Flow testing is strongly recommended for employees to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission for employees who cannot work remotely.
Retail
The coronavirus regulations require retail businesses to take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of COVI D-19 transmission.
Retail businesses vary significantly in terms of size, layout and capacity, however consideration must be given to social distancing, one-way systems, screens, barriers and capacity management.
You must wear a face covering when you go to any retail premises, including any indoor area of a shopping centre, unless exempt.
Social Distancing
Social distancing is one of a number of measures that can help to reduce the spread of COVID-79.
Other mitigations include good ventilation, the use of protective screens and face coverings, as well as increased cleaning and handwashing.
The closer you are to others, the higher the risk. The risk of transmission is therefore higher at one metre compared to two metres.
Source and further information available at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ articles/ coron avi rus-covi d-19-reg u I at ions-a nd-g u id an ce-w hat-they-mean-you #toc-6
Information correct as of February 10th, 2022
Irish Cement Limited {ICL) fined €225,000 following serious injury of an employee.
On Friday 21st January 2022, at Trim Circuit Court, Judge Martina Baxter imposed a fine of €225,000 on Irish Cement Limited (ICL), Platin Works, Platin, Drogheda, Co. Louth following guilty pleas to breaches of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005.
The case arose following an incident on 17th April 2078 when Mr Emmanuel Eldershaw was seriously injured when the articulated tractor and trailer unit he was operating toppled over whilst he was tipping a load in the Petroleum Coke fuel storage yard at Irish Cement Ltd., Platin Works, Drogheda, County Louth. An investigation by the Health & Safety Authority concluded that all appropriate safety measures were not in place at the time of the incident.
Irish Cement Ltd. pleaded guilty to Section 75(3) Safety, Health and Work Act 2005 contrary to section 77(9)(a) of the Safety, Health and Work Act 2005 (regarding general duties of persons in control of a place of work to ensure that the place of work, means of access and egress to/from it and any article or substance provided in that place of work are safe and without risk to health) and Section 79(5) Safety, Health and Work Act 2005 contrary to section 77(2)(a) of the Safety, Health and Work Act 2005 (regarding the carrying out of a risk assessment ).
Mark Cullen, Chief Inspector with the Health and Safety Authority said, “This is an unfortunate and serious incident that could have been prevented. Employers should ensure
that safe access and egress is provided for plant and equipment being used in the workplace to protect employees and others from the hazard and risks arising from
vehicles operating in the workplace. It is of the utmost importance that employers should, where risks have been identified, take the appropriate measures and put in place the
control measures to eliminate or reduce the risks identified.
If you are in need of any NPORS training or would like to put your workforce through it, get in touch with us and we will provide the information you need on our range of courses.
MOBILE TOWER FALL DEATH: BACKGROUND TO A TRAGEDY
On 75 January 2022 at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court, Peter Saunders Builders Ltd was fined £76,000 after pleading guilty to breaching regulation 8 (a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, following an incident that saw one of its workers, Sean Harding, fall from height and subsequently die.
The fine was the culmination of four years of investigations and legal proceedings. But while £76,000 might seem like a rather small penalty following an occupational fatality, this particular incident was far more complex than the headline ‘fatality after fall from height’ might suggest.
‘The original incident occurred on 75 September 2077, when workers for Peter Saunders Builders were trying to level a steel beam that was going on top of a standard-height door lintel. The man who subsequently died was using a low-level mobile tower with its decks set three rungs up-somewhere in the region of five to six feet from floor level-and was using a crowbar to manoeuvre the steel beam to place a sim in,’ Stephen said.
‘It wasn’t an overly complicated job but unfortunately Sean snagged his sleeve on the top of the tower and that was enough to unbalance him. The mobile tower only had one guard rail, so in the absence of a second guard rail, he went over the side and fell down to the ground.
Full Story here www.ioshmagazine.com/2022/02/07/mobile-tower-fall-death-background-tragedy
If you are in need of any NPORS training or would like to put your workforce through it, get in touch with us and we will provide the information you need on our range of courses.
Now released
The Health and Safety Authority has a wide and varied mandate including acting as the national body with responsibility for protecting workers from workrelated incidents, injuries and ill health.It acts as the market surveillance authority for chemicals and industrial products, and protects all citizens from the risks arising from the use of chemicals.
The Authority provides the national accreditation service through the Irish National Accreditation Body (INAB).
This strategy clearly sets out the Health and Safety Authority’s priorities and goals across all of these important areas, whilst taking into account the different challenges that have faced Ireland over recent years and will be facing the Health and Safety Authority over the next three years. These include emerging from the COVID-19 public health pandemic, dealing with the continued fallout from the UK exiting the EU, addressing new ways of working together with remote working, responding to the climate crisis and also the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the workplace and the challenges this can present for the work of the Authority.
In implementing this strategy, the Authority will strive to address all opportunities and challenges while achieving tangible outcomes in occupational safety and health (OSH), accreditation, chemicals, and market surveillance. The key to a successful and productive economy and workforce is a commitment to safer and healthier working lives for all.
For a full copy of strategy document e-mail info@dsafetys.com or see HSA website
If you are in need of any NPORS training or would like to put your workforce through it, get in touch with us and we will provide the information you need on our range of courses.
