CMSE Training Consultancy Recruitment

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.

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

A few years ago I was investigating an accident at a client’s location when I heard a very sudden loud noise nearby.  I went over to check the noise and to see if there was a problem.   I found an engineer and two fitters standing near a moulding machine.  I enquired of them as to their well being and they all said they were fine but a little startled ! !   I asked the engineer what had happened.  He said that he was lifting a reconditioned mould into place and the lifting device (chain-block) had failed and the mould fell to the ground.

I asked him if he would be investigating the accident and he looked at me with a confused expression on his face.  His answer was interesting –  “ no one was hurt – why would we investigate ?”  I pointed out that there was a very high risk of serious injury from a recurrence of this type of event.  I then also asked him how much it would cost to repair the mould.  His answer here was VERY alarming to me also – “ not sure really – but the last time this happened it cost us €30 k”

For me both the possibility of future serious injury and the high cost of such an event made it very obvious to me that an investigation and new control measures were badly needed.  We did carry out an investigation and implement some simple, cheap and practical control measures.  There has been no recurrence and the MD of the workplace is now really delighted to carry out such accident investigations.  He was unaware of these hidden costs in his very high maintenance budget.

Do you know about all your hidden costs?  Can you afford to ignore such accidents in your workplace?

Jobseekers and unemployed people all over Ireland are trying to find work in a very competitive market.  Re-skilling, using short duration training courses of one day to two weeks, is one obvious way to increase your chances in the job market. The good news is that jobseekers who are trying to get back to work can now get free or subsidised courses from training companies nationwide.

This is a very positive move by the government to assist jobseekers in their efforts to enhance their CVs and thereby enhance their job prospects.  All jobseekers should be looking at the courses available and seeing if courses exist that will equip them for career paths that they may be interested in.

Typical short duration training courses that are available are – Certified Energy Manager Course – Building Energy Rating (BER) Course – First Aider Courses – Taxi Driver Course – Trainee Firefighter – Accredited Safety Certificate Courses – Registered Gas Installer Courses – Carbon Emissions Measurement Courses – and many more.