STAR TS Translation Services Blog

Last week we attended the Health and Safety Authority’s “Taking Care of Business” expo. An excellent event run in the new Dublin Convention Centre, Spencer Dock.

BeSmart Risk Assessment Launch:

The event launched  the new “BeSmart Risk Assessment Tool” which we’ve been using and found to be a extremely useful tool. The tool helps you easily and quickly define a Safety Statement for your business alonside a Risk Assessment policy and action list.  Produced by the HSA it outlines and complies with all the latest legislation here in Ireland.

Launch of HSA BeSmart Risk Assessment Tool

You can login anonymously or create an account so you can use/update your statement on an ongoing basis.

Also at the expo we came across a number of other items of interest.

Health and Safety Review:

For this involved in managing any substantional operation the Health and Safety Review is a monthly publication on all cases and legislation updates.

Alongside demonstrations of sample environments Dublin Fire Brigade was available and thanks to them for the advice on correct use of Fire detection systems.

Enterprise Ireland was at hand to discuss funding for companies who are required to achieve Environmental Compliance for their products for export. So if you need ISO 9002  or ISO 14001 you should contact the Environmental Unit at Enterprise Ireland.

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) provide useful guidelines on making services more accessible for people with sight problems.

There are many specialised supports available to help service providers and businesses meet the needs of those who are blind or may be visually impaired. For example:

Awareness training Awareness Training can bring a much greater understanding of issues around vision loss and how to make services more accessible.

Accessible technologies People who are blind or visually impaired may not be able to access information or services due to inaccessible websites, or poor quality displays and touch screens. The Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) provides information, education and assistance in designing accessible websites. Find out more at www.cfit.ie

Accessibility audit An access audit of your premises may highlight certain aspects that make it difficult for a person with sight loss to find their way around independently. Low cost, simple adaptions can make premises more accessible and safer. For further infomation contact: www.ncbi.ie

These guidelines and advice are reprinted from ISME the Irish Small And Medium Business Enterprise Association.  ISME provides business training, advice and mentoring services to companies throughout Ireland.

ISME Membership is a cost-effective way for SME owner/managers to be continually updated on issues that impact on their business and network with like-minded business people.

If you are interested in joining contact:

Sue Ellis
Business Development Officer
ISME, the Independent Business Organisation,
17 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 00353 1 6622755

or visit ISME.IE

The CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the classification,  labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) entered into force on the 20th of January 2009.

This covers substances subject to registration under the REACH regulation and hazardous substances on the market.  You may have duties and deadlines to meet under the CLP Regulation. There are two key deadlines which are fast approaching.

DEADLINES:

1st December 2010 :

You must reclassify and relabel your substances, in accordance with the new ‘CLP’ classification. If the product is already on the shelf then the deadline is 1 December 2012.

3rd January 2011:

You must notify your substances to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) of the classification and labelling of the substances

For further information contact the Health & Safety Authority web-site at www.hsa.ie/clp or their helpdesk which can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or clp@hsa.ie

On Friday 15th October Lord Young, the British Prime Minister’s Adviser on Health & Safety Law and Practice, published his highly anticipated report “Common Sense, Common Safety”, which examines the impact of Health & Safety regulations on businesses and personal freedom.

The report puts forward a series of policies for improving the perception of Health & Safety, to ensure it is taken seriously by employers and the general public. All of the recommendations made have been accepted by David Cameron, and Lord Young will work across departments to ensure his recommendations are carried out.

One recommendation was to simplify the risk assessment procedure for Low Hazard Workplaces such as offices, classrooms and shops. EssentialSkillz commends Lord Young for his recommendations for reform in this area. In particular, as a provider of low cost solutions for Low Hazard Workplaces for the past 10 years, they were pleased to hear him advocate the use of simple interactive online solutions for Health & Safety compliance for the future.

The HSE immediately published an interactive risk assessment tool on their website for Low Hazard workplaces. Click on the link that follows to view the HSE online assessment.

The tool will take you through the key areas of concern for Low Hazard Workplaces which are:

• Slips and trips
• Manual handling
• Working at height
• Well-being of workers
• Computers, laptops and similar equipment
• Fire
• Work equipment

Republished from EssentialSkillz