CMSE Training Consultancy Recruitment

CMSE has conducted the following poll through LinkedIn, which generated some interesting results. Respondent’s were invited to select one of the following statements

Our Company has a Safety Management process because we want to:

1 Reduce risk of death or injury
2 Comply with safety legislation
3 Reduce insurance exposure
4 For all the reasons mentioned
5 We do not implement a system

42% of respondents chose to reduce risk of death and injury as a key reason to implement a safety management process, while 32% felt it was for all reasons 1-3. The desire to comply with safety legislation was selected by 22%c of respondent’s as the primary reason to for their safety management process. These results indicate that although legislation is a key driver in implementing an effective safety management process the basic personal safety of staff is the primary motivation in our poll.

For more information on how to implement a safety management system in your company please contact us info@cmse.ie or 1890 315 415

Chris Mee Safety Engineering (CMSE) is now working with ESB Networks to ensure safety on the Cork Harbour subsea cable laying project.

CMSE is acting as the Health and Safety Co-ordinator to ESB Networks on this project.   This contract is the most recent in a long list of prestigious contracts gained by CMSE.   The project involves the management of site safety in the subsea section of the cable laying from Aghada to Cuskinny in Cobh.

This project is the first of several similar projects to be commissioned by ESB Networks in the coming year to robust electricity supplies in the Cork lower harbour area.

For more information of CMSE services in this area check here

The Port of Cork is working with CMSE to achieve OHSAS 18001, Mr Chris Mee of CMSE and Mr Henry Kingston of the Port of Cork recently met to discuss the detail of the support services available from CMSE. The Port of cork have been leading the way in its health and safety and environmental management, demonstrated through it IPSM award in 2007. The Port of Cork will secure OHSAS 18001 Accredition in the next 12 months.  

Health & Safety Authority (HSA) & CMSE – Confined Space Training for HSA Inspectors

Chris Mee Safety Engineering (CMSE) recently delivered several days of confined space training to a large group of HSA inspectors at the CMSE Training Centre.  The hands on training programme was organised by Mr. Mark Roland of the HSA and Mr Christopher Mee of CMSE.  

The customised course was delivered by CMSEs top trainers for the HSA inspectors and focused on the essential safety requirements of confined space entry and rescue including the use of confined space equipment (both operational & rescue).  The inspectors were also instructed in the correct use and inspection of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). 

The HSA is the Irish State Agency for Occupational Safety and Health.  Their inspectors carry out both enforcement and educational/information delivery to employers and employees in the essential area of accident reduction and prevention.  For more information on the HSA you can visit their website www.hsa.ie.

OHSAS 18000 is an international occupational health and safety management system specification. It comprises two parts, 18001 and 18002 and embraces a number of other publications.The OHSAS specification is applicable to any organisation that wishes to establish an OH&S management system to eliminate or minimise risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OH&S risks associated with its activities.

It benefits companies an a number of ways:

• Assure itself of its conformance with its stated OH&S policy
• Demonstrate such conformance to others
• Implement, maintain and continually improve an OH&S management system
• Make a self-determination and declaration of conformance with this OHSAS specification.
• Seek certification/registration of its OH&S management system by an external organisation

The Safe-T-Cert was established in 2000 by the Irish Construction Industry Federation (CIF), and Northern Ireland Construction Employers Federation, with support from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The scheme was set up to assure clients that certified contractors have an effective safety and health management system, as well as with the expectation that insurance companies may look favourably on contractors who have taken a pro-active approach to risk management as demonstrated through the achievement of Safe-T-Cert certification.

CMSE has just assisted a client in setting up a full Construction Safety Management System. The process involved a number of CMSE consultants working directly with the company’s management team to develop the existing procedures and practices into a coherent and robust system that would not only conform with the Safe-T-Cert requirements but also could be easily integrated into the everyday operational activities of the company. So as well as writing and implementing a detailed written management system, CMSE consultants carried out site inspections and toolbox talks to ensure that all employees and contractors were aware of the system and that it could be implemented quickly and effectively.

The safety management system implemented covered a wide variety of policies and procedures within the organisation, including a training needs analysis, inductions and toolbox talks, control of contractors, site rules and emergency procedures, PPE policy, complying with PSCS and other statutory roles in the construction industry, equipment testing and certification, accident reporting, chemical and physical agents assessments, preparation of method statements and risk assessments and many more. It is important the client receives a ‘living’ system, which can be implemented straight away without causing major internal changes, and will also grow and develop as the company does.

As a final step, CMSE then carried out a rigorous pre-audit of the system, using an independent internal resource to cast fresh eyes over the system and iron out any last issues before the arrival of the Safe-T-Cert team. The lead Safe-T-Cert auditor praised the system during his visit, noting that the company achieved a higher grade than would be expected for a first-time audit. In fact, he also pointed out that up to 50% of companies fail their first Safe-T-Cert audit and that applicants usually have quite a lot of work to do before resubmitting for a second audit.

CMSE implements a range of management systems from ISO 9001 to OHSAS 18001 to internal corporate standards. www.cmse.ie

There were 67 cases of legionnaires’ disease reported in Ireland during the period 2000 to 2007. There were five deaths due to legionnaires’ disease during this period

In April 2003 a woman died of Legionnaires Disease at Waterford Regional Hospital. After being admitted to hospital in March 2003 the patient was diagnosed as having Crohn’s Disease but a routine x-ray taken showed that the patient was also suffering from pneumonia. Further tests confirmed that she had Legionnaires Disease.

In 2008 RTE reported that two members of staff at the Allianz Insurance Company in Dublin had contracted the legionnaires disase. Tests linked the disease to one of the cooling towers used as part of the air conditioning system which was found to have high levels of the legionella bacterium.

What is Legionella?

Legionella is gram negative bacterium, including species that cause Legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease, most notably L.pneumophilia. Legionnaires disease poses the greatest risk to people who are elderly, ill or immunocompromised.
Legionella transmission is via aerosols, and insulation of mist droplets containing the bacteria. Common source include:

• Cooling towers
• Domestic hot and cold water systems
• Emergency shower heads and showers
• Taps and water storage tanks
• Other water systems

A number of factors are required to create a risk of Legionella including; presence of the Legionella bacteria, water change rate, degree of exposure, presence of the numbers of people who may be at risk of exposure, water temperatures, total microbial count, enclosed or open systems.

What Creates the Risk of Legionella?

A number of factors are required to create a risk of Legionella, including;

• The presence of the Legionella bacteria,
• Source condition (clean- heavy contamination)
• Accessibility (Enclosed – open system)
• Acidity/ Alkalinity
• Conditions suitable for the survival of the organism, e.g. suitable temperature and a source of nutrients, e.g. limescale, rust, algae and other organic matter.
• Temperatures that affect the survival of Legionellae are as follows;

• From 70°C to 80°C – Disinfection range.
• At 66°C – Legionella die within 2 minutes.
• At 60°C – Legionella die within 32 minutes.
• At 55°C – Legionella die within 5-6 hours.
• From 50°C – 55°C – They can survive but do not multiply.
• From 20°C to 50°C – Legionella growth range.
• From 35°C to 46°C – Ideal growth range.
• Below 20°C – Legionella can survive but are dormant.
• Water change rate ( High- static)
• The presence (numbers) of people who may be at risk of exposure.
• Degree of exposure (hrs/week)
• A means of creating and disseminating breathable droplets, e.g. showers
• Total Microbial Count (cfu/ml)

For more information or to manage or assess risk or incidents of Legionella you should contact a reputable Legionella Risk Assessment Consultant .

There was a rush on BER assessor courses in Ireland in the past year, as new legislation came in compelling property owners to have premises rated prior to when they were sold, leased or let. So, how much should one of these courses cost?

Following a recent survey on BER course prices reported that the cost of a Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)-approved five day course is dropping substantially versus this time last year. The laws of supply and demand are driving costs down, with an increased number of course providers and a reduced number of course attendees seeking places.

The survey of the market place showed us that some providers are still offering the course at highly inflated prices of approximately €1950 trying to milk the last cent out of the unwary person booking the course.  The higher priced course providers will offer discounts only when pushed!  Others were providing the same course for just €1450 without any negotiation. If booking in bulk it is worth asking your training provider for a discount.

It is definitely worth doing some research on costs and quality of the various costs. There has never been a better time to get good value when doing a course, but at the same time the age old rules of caviat emptor (or let the buyer beware) apply. So the message when selecting a BER training provider is, shop around and do your research on who the training provider is.

Christmas is a time of Happiness and making Merry,  but make sure you think of safety in the home as well !!!  Beware !

1.  3 people die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue.
2.  31 people have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the Christmas lights were plugged in.
3.  142 people were injured in 2008 by not removing all the pins from new shirts

4. 58 people are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers.
5. 19 people have died in the last 3 years believing that Christmas decorations were chocolate.

6. British Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year from cracker pulling accidents.
7. 171 people since 1999 have had broken parts of plastic toys pulled out of the soles of their feet.
8. 18 people had serious burns in 2007 trying on a new jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth.
9. A massive 543 people were admitted to hospital in the last two years during Christmas after opening bottles of beer with their teeth.
[Statistics Taken from RoSPA]

Have a Happy and Safe Christmas from Chris Mee

I have found the following sites to be excellent as information sources.

This HSE site has excellent information in video format on a huge number of safety topics. http://www.hse.gov.uk/resources/videos.htm

The following site from the US Chemical Safety Board has a huge selection of Chemical Safety Related Videos. Excellent Site
http://www.chemsafety.gov

The following site gives free pictures for use in the preparation of Safety Training Courses
http://elcosh.org/images/

The following site is excellent for Tool Box Talk information
http://safetytoolboxtalks.com/

I constantly update the best site list. Visit whenever you want to see the most recent best site list.