Lecture 9 Flashcards
What is meant by Health & Safety in the Workplace?
Workplace health refers to how work affects a person’s health. When managed properly, work is generally good for a person’s physical and mental well-being.
Who is the HSA?
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the state-sponsored body in Ireland responsible for ensuring safety, health, and welfare at work.
What are the responsibilities of the HSA?
Promoting good standards of health and safety at work.
Monitoring compliance with health and safety laws in the workplace.
Undertaking and sponsoring research on health and safety at work.
What are employees’ Health & Safety responsibilities?
Protect themselves from harm at work.
Cooperate with their employer on safety and health matters.
Not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Attend and undergo training as required.
What are employers’ Health & Safety responsibilities?
Creating and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.
Managing the workplace to ensure the safety and health of employees.
Providing and maintaining a safe place of work with safe access.
Providing information, instruction, training, and supervision regarding safety and health.
Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
What legislation regulates workplace safety in Ireland?
Workplace safety in Ireland is regulated by national and EU legislation. The primary legislation is the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
What is REACH? What is an SDS?
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals) is a European program that regulates the safe management of chemicals within the EU.
SDS (Safety Data Sheets) provide useful information about chemicals, describing the hazards they present.
What is a biological agent and how are they categorized?
A biological agent is a microorganism, cell culture, or human endoparasite that can cause infection, allergy, or toxicity.
Biological agents are classified into four risk groups:
Unlikely to cause human disease.
Can cause human disease and might be a hazard to employees but is unlikely to spread to the community.
Can cause severe human disease, is a serious hazard to employees, and may spread to the community.
Causes severe human disease, is a serious hazard to employees, and presents a high risk of spreading to the community.
What is the ISO OH&S management system?
The ISO OH&S management system is ISO 45001:2018.
What are the main parts of a safety statement?
Company safety policy: Identifies the company’s commitment to health and safety.
List of roles and responsibilities.
List of all hazards and the controls in place to address them.
A description of how safety and health are managed in the workplace.
How is risk assessed in the workplace regarding Health & Safety?
Identify hazards.
Evaluate the risks.
Identify control or mitigation measures for each risk.
Example: A risk assessment template includes identifying the hazard, risk level, control measures, and who is responsible for implementing them.
