Ibec - Employer Services

HR news

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 07:06:50 GMT

Ibec's [Knowledge Centre Team] provide a specialist advisory and information service to members on employment law, HR and other ...

Government launches Legislation Programme for Autumn Session 2017

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In recent weeks Government announced the Legislation Programme for Autumn 2017.The programme includes priority legislation; Bills that are expected to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny; all other legislation; Bills currently on the D�il and Seanad Order Paper; Bills both enacted and published since the Government came to office in May of 2016

National emergencies and the payment of wages

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The national response to Hurricane Ophelia has generated a series of questions as to the rights of employees to be paid when, through no fault of their own, they are forced to stay home from work. Various news reports emerged over the course of the day attempting to address the key question - were employees entitled to be paid for the day in question?

Outline of an Induction plan for Senior Managers

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Many companies believe that once a successful candidate, or employee moving up the ranks, has signed the contract, agreed a start date and successfully resigned or finished up previous duties that it's job done on the new appointment. However, at this stage, the job is only just beginning.

Reasonable accommodation - how much is enough?

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Section 16 of the Employment Equality Act 2004 provides that an employer is not required to retain an employee if he/she “is not fully competent” and “fully capable” of carrying out their role. Notwithstanding this, an employee with a disability must be regarded as fully competent and capable if the employer can take “appropriate measures” which would enable them to perform their role

International Financial Services (IFS) Apprenticeships

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Financial Services Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the sector, in partnerships with the National College of Ireland has launched two new International Financial Services Apprenticeships, aimed at both entry level employees looking for a great career choice, as well as experienced professionals wishing to pursue a career change or a more technical role within the financial services sector

Ireland is well served by a voluntarist approach to collective bargaining

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

SIPTU recently called for a referendum on the issue of collective bargaining, no doubt with a view to paving the way for legislation requiring some form of mandatory trade union recognition. Such a move will upset this careful balance of industrial relations which has served us so well to date.

Occupational First Aid: The Requirements and Changes in progress

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The recent changes to the Occupational First Aid (OFA) Training and Trainer requirements have highlighted the First Aider Role and prompted many companies to review this function within their organisations. This article outlines the basic requirements and highlights the ongoing changes to training.

Training levy increase unwelcome but presents opportunity for reform

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The budget announcement that the National Training Fund (NTF) levy will be raised by 0.1% of payroll in 2018 to 0.8% and by a further 0.1% in both 2019 and 2020 can be viewed as a potential threat to business competitiveness. However, if properly implemented, the accompanying reforms also offer the opportunity to ring fenced funds for targeted in-work training programmes to help companies upskill their workforce.

Proposal to extend maternity leave in the case of premature births

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

From 1st October 2017, the period for which maternity benefit is paid is being extended in cases where a baby is born prematurely.

Data access requests under GDPR

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:18:10 GMT

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will commence on 25 May 2018, and will supersede the current EU Data Protection ...

Data access requests under GDPR

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Employers will need to be familiar with how the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will affect their normal business operations. This article deals with the changes that will be effective from 25 May next year regarding how individuals can make a data access request to their current, former or potential employer.

Not all routes lead to Dublin - Irish law does not always apply to Ryanair employees, says CJEU

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Court of Justice of the European Union has stated that a clause in Ryanair’s contracts of employment providing that any disputes in relation to its terms were to be resolved under Irish law before the relevant Irish authorities is not enforceable in certain cases involving workers in different jurisdictions.

Prepare now for European Safety Week!

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The theme for 2016/17 is "Healthy Workplaces for All Ages". The campaign website contains lots of information tailored to the needs of employers, workers, HR Managers, OSH professionals and others.

Recent pay claims before the Labour Court

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

As the Irish economy continues to recover, trade unions have been looking for wage increases for their members, in the absence of any nationally agreed collective wage bargaining. A number of these claims have come before the Labour Court.

Revised Third Level Graduate Programme allows no retrospection on duration of stamp 1G permission to work

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This a brief overview of the Revised Third Level Graduate Programme published by INIS. The revised Programme offers graduates at level 9 or above of the National Framework of Qualifications up to a two year period or residence and right to work in the State. It will not be made retrospective for non EEA 2016 graduates from Irish colleges and universities who are (or are not) availing of the 2016 programme.

Safety Statements- Where to Start?

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Safety Statement is a written programme that describes how they manage safety, health and welfare in the workplace. The legal reference is Section 20 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. This requirement applies to every company with more than three employees.

Key takeaways from the 2016 data protection case studies

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Key takeaways from the 2016 data protection case studies

GDPR

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 15:50:24 GMT

The Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003 currently instructs organisations on their data protection obligations. The General Data Protection Regulation ...

Putting the X factor into attracting and retaining talent

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In a rapidly changing world where employee expectations are continuously evolving, the management of talent has become a sizeable and demanding task. At a recent Ibec event, Deloitte, Three Ireland and Citibank shared their expertise.

Quick tips on expediting the employment permit process

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In order to work in Ireland a non EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. We feature some reminders of Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation initiatives that are designed to make the permit application process faster and easier.

PAYE Modernisation, are you ready yet?

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The modernisation of the PAYE system is due to take effect from January 1st 2019. The new Real Time Reporting (RTR) system will require employers to report pay, tax and other deductions as well as details of employees leaving employment, at the same time as they run payroll.

When a Health and Safety Inspector calls

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

“When a H.S.A inspector calls” was the theme of a recent Ibec webinar. Over 500 members signed up to the June 2017 webinar. The session covered health and safety law in relation to the Health and Safety Authority, the powers granted to inspectors, reasons why an inspector could call to your premises and the actions of an inspector.

A right to legal representation during workplace investigations?

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A High Court judgment on pre-disciplinary investigations and fair procedures was one of a number of significant decisions emanating from the superior courts this quarter. Other noteworthy decisions featured in this Quarterly Case Update related to issues of workplace bullying and changes to terms and conditions of employment.

Pay and benefits

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:14:37 GMT

This section outlines the statutory pay and benefit entitlements under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and provision of PRSAs ...

2017 a pivotal year for employment law developments

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

2017 was a pivotal year for employment law developments - read a synopsis of the Ibec Annual Employment Law Conference that took place in Croke Park on the 11 May this year.

Latest Ibec research on leave arrangements

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Latest Ibec research on leave

Maternity benefit - recent Ibec survey data

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Data was collected in our conditions of employment survey 2016 on whether a top-up is provided to employees on maternity leave, over and above social welfare benefit. We also collected data on how this top-up is provided to employees. The attached documents set out details of the full findings.

Religious observance in the workplace: key considerations for employers

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

An increasing diverse workforce can lead to requests from employees not to work on certain days in observance of religious holidays or requesting the use of the company’s meeting rooms for prayer. How should a company address these and other religion/ belief related issues?

June Public Holiday FAQ's

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This is a collection of frequently asked questions to help employers understand their obligations regarding the June public holiday entitlement.

GDPR and Data Protection

Fri, 26 May 2017 11:14:37 GMT

The Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003 currently instructs organisations on their data protection obligations. The General Data Protection Regulation ...

Induction policy and checklist

Wed, 24 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Induction training has been described as an inherent part of the training and development process and the first and most fundamental step in the retention of employees. Ibec have compiled a policy and checklist to help employers review their induction process for new hires.

2017 a pivotal year for employment law developments

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In light of 2017 proving such an exceptionally busy year for employment policy initiatives, the focus of Ibec's 2017 Employment Law Conference was to help employers navigate the road ahead.

Alcohol and drugs at work- a dismissible offence?

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In some circumstances it may be reasonable to dismiss and employee who turns up for work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, employers need to adhere to their workplace policies and avoid acting hastily. Many factors will be considered in any subsequent claim.

Economic context for wage negotiations - May 2017

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ibec's Economic Context for Wage Negotiations - A Guide for HR Managers has been updated to relect the latest economic indicators. It will be of interest to companies preparing budgets or embarking on wage negotiations.

Key takeaways from data protection case studies

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A large retail bank's disclosure of personal information to a complainant's mother featured amongst the data security breach notifications dealt with by the Data Protection Commissioner in 2016.

Managing Health and Safety of Oversea Travel

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Employers have a basic legal obligation to take reasonable care for the safety health and welfare of their employees. Sending an employee overseas on company business brings with it its own specific hazards and risks.

Moving employees from weekly to monthly pay

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The prudent employer will flag a proposed change from weekly to monthly pay well in advance to allow staff time to change direct debits. Providing a loan for those who may struggle financially with the changeover can also help overcome resistance.

Pregnant Employees

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Once notified that an employee is pregnant, employers must complete a specific risk assessment of that employee's tasks and consider the various aspects that might affect the pregnancy. In addition, the regulations also provide for situations where the task presents a risk to the pregnancy and Health and Safety Leave.

Timely reminder of restrictions on fixed-term contract renewals

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A recent Labour Court case resulted in a major award for a former fixed-term worker in a dispute over a contract of indefinite duration (CID). The case reaffirms that there must be objective grounds that justify offering a fixed-term worker a further temporary contract rather than a CID.

Too many bills seek to regulate employment relationship

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ibec's Director of Employer Relations, Maeve McElwee has described the number of Private Members' Bills currently seeking to regulate employment law as concerning. She warned these Private Members's Bills have little regard for consequences on competitiveness and sustaining jobs.

Health and safety legislation

Mon, 22 May 2017 10:10:13 GMT

The health, safety and welfare of employees in Ireland is governed by national legislation , much of which is derived ...

OHS news and updates

Mon, 22 May 2017 10:08:19 GMT

HSA to begin inspection campaign to tackle vehicle risks at work The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will today Monday ...

Latest Ibec research on pension schemes

Mon, 15 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ibec survey on conditions of employment was undertaken in September 2016. A total of 373 companies responded to the survey. The total employed by these companies is 67,224 employees. This report provides a statistical report of pension schemes in the companies surveyed. Over eight out of ten companies (82%) have a pension scheme in operation. Of those with a pension scheme in operation, 223 (73%) have a defined contribution scheme and 40 (13%) have a defined benefit scheme in place.

Work Equipment (General Equipment)

Tue, 09 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

All tasks and operations will, to some extent, involve using work equipment. These provisions cover the minimum standards to be in place for all types and uses of work equipment as well as specific provisions relating to machinery and access to moving parts.

New Ibec guides on GDPR issues

Mon, 08 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ibec's GDPR taskforce have produced two new guides to help employers understand and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation that will come into force on 25 May 2018.

Drug & alcohol testing in the workplace

Thu, 04 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When published in 2005, the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act made provision to oblige certain employees, "as may be prescribed" by regulations, to submit to an appropriate and reasonable test for intoxicants. The Health and Safety Authority having consulted with the social partners and other interest groups have decided that they do not intend for the foreseeable future to publish regulations to enforce this provision in the Act. Currently the testing requirement only affects safety critical situations on a sector basis and is prescribed for in other legislation. If your organisation conducts drugs and alcohol tests, it is important that it has a policy in place. This policy should be agreed by all parties involved.

Explosive Atmospheres

Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Explosive atmospheres can be created in a number of circumstances, such as using solvents, generating dust, etc, and not just large dangerous substance processing. Where there is a potential for an explosive atmosphere, depending on the level of risk, an employer must introduce certain control measures, including, in some cases, an emergency plan.

Vibration

Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

There is recognition that several conditions are linked to long term exposure to vibration. This relates to conditions effecting the hands, arms and in some cases the whole body. Where employee exposure to handtools, hand held equipment, rider operated equipment, etc, exceeds certain limits, then an employer must introduce practical measures to reduce the risk.

Work Equipment (Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations)

Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Where an employer uses equipment for lifting operations they must ensure that the equipment and accessories are suitable and that the operation itself is planned, organised and supervised. The provisions laid out in this part of the regulations cover all lifting operations of goods and certain operations involving the lifting of people. Where the latter is the case, the regulations must be read in conjunction with the Work at Height Provisions.

Electrical Equipment (General)

Mon, 01 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Employers must ensure that all electrical equipment meets the standards provided for in these regulations. Given the specialised nature of working with electrical appliances and sources, these regulations are often thought of as only applying to high-voltage equipment and electrical engineers. However, they apply to all electrical equipment used in the workplace including kettles or microwave ovens that may have been provided.

Workplace investigations - Style over substance?

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The recent Labour Court decision in the case of Pinnacle Security Ltd v Chris Mabuza UDD1640 offers employers a moment to reflect on the importance of fair and reasonable procedures in carrying out a workplace investigation.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE/VDUs)

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When certain conditions are met, if employees use display screen equipment (computers, ect) then employers are obliged to make certain provisions available and to ensure that workstations meet minimum standards.

Workers' Memorial Day 2017

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

For everyone with an interest in the safety, health and welfare of people at work, Friday 28th April is an important date nationally and worldwide when we remember people killed or injured in work-related accidents.

Are you a social media savvy employer?

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

These days many roles are devoted to engaging with customers across various social media platforms. It is important to train staff who are required use social media for work and to have a clear policy for those who are not.

Ibec 2017 Employment Law Conference to focus on proposed legislation

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

2017 will be a pivotal year for employment law policy in Ireland, as developments continue apace. Several new policy initiatives, which will affect every business, have already dominated the headlines including proposals in relation to zero hour contracts and banded hour contracts and developments in retirement age, all of which present a variety of challenges for employers.

Ibec briefing on employee health and well-being in the Workplace

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday 27 March, over 110 HR practitioners from Ibec member companies attended a briefing on employee health and well-being in the workplace. Employee health and well-being is key area of interest for employers, a fact that was confirmed in the Ibec HR Update Survey in late 2016.

Labour Court considers collective bargaining application

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Communications Workers Union’s claim against Conduit Enterprises Ltd under revised industrial relations legislation was recently before the Labour Court for consideration.

Poor performance - grounds for dismissal?

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Under section 6 (4)(a) of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 to 2015, performance that fails to meet the standard required is one of the fair grounds on which an employer may dismiss an employee however case law reaffirms that organisations must give the employee every opportunity to improve their performance before dismissal is considered.

Tips for PIPs

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In a previous article we discussed the increasing utilisation of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) on the part of employers to manage cases of poor work performance. In this article, will look at the content of PIPs and the introduction of an organisational PIP policy.

Work at Height

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

As part of the systematic risk assessments, the employer must look at the work that employees are required to undertake and determine where work is undertaken "at height". The scope of "at height" will mean that operations from usuing a ladder to using a foot stool to access a file come under the requirements of this legislation.

Creating site Emergency Plans

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The purpose of an emergency plan is to develop procedures for managing major emergencies that may threaten the health and safety of the organisation and its employees, disrupt its business, or require assistance for the surrounding communities (emergency services, etc). The Plan should identify departments /individuals responsible for emergency planning, emergency response, business continuity and business recovery planning. The Plan should establish procedures to prepare for emergencies, as well as the management structure for coordinating and managing response to emergencies.

Fire Extinguishers

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

On a daily basis, we walk past fire extinguishers in our workplaces. Those involved with fire safety or who have seen the devastation caused by fire, recognise the importance of having sufficient and appropriate fire fighting equipment in place which can be used by suitably trained people to extinguish a fire in its early stages.

Health and safety training

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When employers are reviewing their expenditure on various aspects of business costs, this is likely to include all formats of training as well as health and safety training. When making these decisions it is important to be aware that in many cases, there are statutory requirements for providing health and safety training. In the following spreadsheet the key training requirements of current health and safety legislation are examined. It clearly indicates training that is dictated by risk and business needs and those training provisions and syllabi that are prescribed by legislation to assist employers to determine their individual requirements for OHS training.

Night Work and Shift Work

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Certain hazards and risks are specifically associated with employees who work night work shift patterns. These regulations establish the need to conduct a risk assessment and health surviellance

Noise

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Where workplace noise levels exceed certain limits, an employer is obliged to meet certain standards. These regulations cover all workplaces and the source of the noise isn't relevant: if employee's exposure exceeds the prescribed limits, an employer must reduce the risk.

Latest research on employees rostered to work on a Sunday

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This Ibec survey on Sunday working was carried out in 2016. Of the total of 373 respondents, just over a third (34%) indicated that they have employees rostered to work on Sundays. Of these, 126 provided details of whether Sunday was a part of their normal roster.

Update on retirement - March 2017

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past twelve months the area of retirement age has experienced a lot of change and there is further change proposed.

Employee duties and rights

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Employees are protected under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and afforded rights as an employee. However, employees also have legal duties imposed on them by the legislation which can consitute an offence if not complied with.

Job applicants with convictions

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

It’s been almost a year since the enactment of the 2016 Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act. Since its commencement, the Act has restricted the scope of self-declaration by not requiring job applicants to disclose a spent conviction and making it unlawful to penalise an employee for not doing so.

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) – are they worth it?

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) – are they worth it? Are PIPs a golden solution to managing underperformance? What are the considerations for employers in utilising PIPs?

Q1 2017 update of Labour Court decisions under UD legislation

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In this quarterly case update we take a look at three recent Labour Court decisions under the Unfair Dismissals legislation. The first case involved an employee sleeping at work, the second case considered whether or not a procedural flaw was fatal to the dismissal process, and the final case focused on the extension of time limits for lodging a claim

Transitioning in the workplace

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The workplace can be a challenging place for an individual who is transitioning and there are a number of information resources available to employers to enable them to support their transgender employees in the workplace during that process.

Vigilance needed in managing a voluntary redundancy process

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In a case that demonstrates the level of vigilance required in managing a voluntary redundancy process, the Labour Court has overturned on appeal, a €30,000 constructive dismissal award made by the WRC.

Performance

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 12:24:40 GMT

Over the last number of years there has been a consolidation of the concept of performance management. Organisations are under ...

Leadership

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 12:16:50 GMT

Leadership skills and ability is a key area of investment for organisations that are looking to maximise their performance. We ...

Workplace Relations Commission - Guidance Document

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Workplace Relations Act 2015 was signed into law on the 1st of October 2015. It brings to a conclusion an ambitious reform project that resulted in the consolidation of the previous five employment rights bodies into two. Download Ibec's guidance document on how employment claims and disputes are now dealt with by the Workplace Relations Commission.

Industrial relations

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:52:19 GMT

In the ordinary course of day-to-day employment, conflict is, unfortunately, inevitable. Disputes will arise between employees and between employees and ...

Ibec advisor

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:47:02 GMT

Your designated Ibec advisor Every Ibec member has access to an Ibec advisor through our Knowledge Centre or Advocacy Service ...

The Workplace Relations Commission

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:19:45 GMT

In this section, we explain the workings of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and its functions including how employment claims ...

Ibec Essential guides to HR best practice

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:52:04 GMT

The Ibec HR Best Practice series was developed to provide guidance and case studies in key thematic areas of strategic ...

Employee engagement

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:27:40 GMT

Organisations are under increasing pressure to improve performance and to maximise the contribution of every employee. Engaged employees impact on ...

Employee engagement

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:26:01 GMT

Organisations are under increasing pressure to improve performance and maximise the contribution of every employee. Employee engagement is an attractive ...

Ibec Training and Education report 2016

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Ibec survey on conditions of employment was undertaken in September 2016. A total of 373 companies responded to the survey. The total employed by these companies is 67,224 employees.

Pregnant Employee Risk Assessment

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007: Protection of Pregnant, Post Natal and Breastfeeding Employees require an employer to conduct a risk assessment of the workplace in relation to women who are pregnant, have recently given birth or are breastfeeding.

Fire Risk Assessment

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Under existing legislation, employers are obliged to ensure that they assess the risks posed to employees and to also have in place adequate means of escape, fire detection and fire fighting. The means of evaluating this information is known as a "fire risk assessment".

Latest Ibec research on additional employee benefits

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Latest Ibec research on additional employee benefits

Latest research on allowances and bonuses

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In 2016, the Ibec research team compiled a comprehensive report on employee allowances and bonuses.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Many employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees. However, these regulations insist that certain steps are taken to ensure that the employer has done all it can to reduce the risk by other means and that where PPE is in use that the employer ensures it meets the applicable standards.

Manual Handling

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Where a task requires employees to move objects by bodily force and it involves a risk of injury, then employers are obliged to ensure that certain provisions are in place and that these activities meet the standards of these regulations.

Employers Duties

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

An employer is defined in the Act as a person with whom the employee has entered into a contract of employment and a person under whose control and direction an employee works, which means that the duties of the employer apply to all managers who have staff working under their direction or supervision.

Guidance and Codes of Practice

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The HSA has the authority to produce guidance notes and codes of practice. This document looks at the difference between the two types of publications and what they mean for the employer.

Health and Safety Authority

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the state sponsored body that has the responsibility for securing safety, health and welfare at work in Ireland. The role of the HSA entails both administration and enforcement functions. Most employers will be familiar with the concept of HSA’s enforcement role which involves site inspections, accident investigations and initiating prosecutions. However, the HSA have a much more detailed brief than enforcement. The HSA produce many publications free of charge to assist employers, employees and self-employed persons to manage health and safety. The HSA also has a helpline where employers and employees can phone for advice on particular aspects of health and safety compliance. .

Induction Training

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Induction training is a very important part of a new employee’s integration into your company. As well as it helping to ‘welcome’ the new recruit into your organisation, it is also an enabling tool to ensure that he/she understands the basic company procedures and rules. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 adequate training, instruction must be provided to all employees and in particular to new employees.

Inspection & maintenance of fire equipment

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Under various Irish Standards and general best practice within industry there are established inspection & maintenance frequencies for fire equipment. Appropriate records of these inspections should be entered into the Fire Safety Register

Overview of SHWW Act 2005

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The Act is made up of a number of parts which include duties regarding health and safety, how health and safety legislation will be enforced and what penalties apply for failure to comply with the law.

Penalisation

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

An employer is prevented from penalising employees, if an employee is acting within their rights as stipulated under health and safety legislation.

Risk Assessment process

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires that employers and those who control workplaces to any extent must identify the hazards in the workplaces under their control and assess the risks to safety and health at work presented by these hazards.

Role of Safety Representative

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Section 25 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 describes the rights and entitlement of safety representatives. It does not give “duties” or “responsibilities” of the safety representative, as they have no additional responsibilities other than as a general employee.

Safety Statement

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Under Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 all employers have a specific duty to prepare a Safety Statement. This is, in effect, management’s programme in writing, which details how safety, health and welfare is being managed and secured.