Driving for Work Webinar 2024

The Road Safety Authority, Health and Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána hosted an online webinar on Thursday 14th November 2024. The objective of this webinar is to inform and educate employers about how to implement safe driving for work practices.

Watch the recording here

HSA Webinar: Influencing Safety Culture

A positive safety culture is the result of collaborative workplace efforts to create an environment where health and safety is prioritised. It happens where systems, structures and people’s actions act together to integrate safe methods into operational decisions at all organisational levels.

This involves proactive approaches such as information sharing and learning opportunities taken in a timely way as well as reactive systems, such as regular system appraisals, proper investigations and general behavioural awareness.

The aim of this webinar is to clarify and heighten understanding of this important area, using simple definitions, real-life examples and highlighting actionable areas to improve safety culture. Informed by experts from areas including Human Factors and Organisational Psychology at HSA.

What is covered in this webinar?

This introductory level webinar, relevant to all sectors, will:

• help you understand safety culture in simple terms,
• give you insights into the role of safety culture in workplace accidents,
• highlight key influences on safety culture, and
• share research findings on workable solutions

Who should watch this webinar?

• Employers and duty-holders
• HR and People Managers
• Operations managers
• Production managers
• Safety representatives
• OSH researchers and consultants

Watch the recording here

Download the presentations below

Find Safety Culture Resources and Information Here

Smart Workplaces: AI, Robotics and Impact on Occupational Safety

The Health and Safety Authority hosted seminars in Limerick, Galway and Dublin on the EU Healthy Workplaces Campaign which aims to raise awareness around the occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges, risks and opportunities related to the digital age.

What were the seminars about?

Digital technologies provide essential services and solutions for all sectors of the economy and society. Digital technologies are not only changing how we work, but also where and when we work.

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) support and replace personnel operating in hazardous environments. Big data enables more effective monitoring systems. Despite its benefits, the impact of digitalisation on occupational safety and health (OSH) is still emerging and relatively uncharted. If a human-centred approach is taken when designing, implementing, managing and using digital technologies, it can help to ensure worker safety and business productivity.

Attendees heard from experts in the area of human factors and the psychosocial aspects of this new and emerging work environment. Attendees also heard from industry representatives and speakers on the topics of AI and Robotics

Who were the seminars for?

• Employers and duty-holders
• Operations managers
• Production managers
• Worker representatives
• Safety representatives
• OSH researchers and consultants

Download the presentations below

Safety Representatives National Conference

The HSA are delighted to host a National Conference on Safety Representatives in Dublin Castle on the 12th of November 2024.

We welcome current Safety Representatives, employers, training organisations, instructors, professional health, and safety practitioners, those interested in occupational health and safety and anyone with occupational health and safety responsibilities.

The conference will include keynote speakers, panel discussion and round table discussions.

This event is now sold out

Managing Hidden Hazards: Human Behaviour at Work 

The Occupational Health Division of the Health and Safety Authority hosted a free seminar to raise awareness of less visible workplace hazards including psychosocial hazards, bullying, fatigue and violence and aggression. Attendees heard expert and regulatory views on the management of these hidden and often challenging aspects of workplace behaviour in organisations.

These were two in-person events in Limerick and in Dublin. Information on the event is available below.

Why attend?

This in-person seminar will help delegates to:

• recognise these less visible OSH issues and contributory causes,
• understand the impact of these OSH
• issues on the organisation and the individual,
• know the HSA perspective including legal responsibilities,
• know the components of effective management systems, good practice and the guidance and supports available,
• consider the measurement of success in managing these areas, and
• reflect on your own and your organisation’s approach to risk management in these areas.

Who should attend

All interested individuals or organisations of any size and of any sector, including;

• Employers, managers, workers and safety reps from public and private sectors
• Policy Makers
• OSH research community
• Health and Safety Supervisors
• HR and People Managers
• Occupational Health Professionals

Speakers and Topics

• Patricia Murray, Senior HSA Organisational Psychologist /Inspector - Psychosocial Hazards
• Ciara Kirwan, HSA Inspector - Bullying in the Workplace
• Colleen Butler, Human Factors Specialist/ HSA Inspector - Worker Fatigue Risk Management
• Paraig Earley, HSA Inspector - Workplace Violence and Aggression
• Paul Daly, HSQE Operations Manager, Coffey Construction - Uncovering Hidden Hazards: An Industry Perspective

Presentations used during the events are available below. Please note these presentations are owned by the Health and Safety Authority and are for information purposes only. They may not be used without explicit permission from the Authority.

The Occupational Health Division of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) presents this webinar to help you foster, develop and sustain a psychologically safe work environment and improve the organisational climate so that employees feel enabled, supported and motivated to better do their jobs in a healthy and safe way.

Speakers from the HSA and ESB share knowledge and insights from recent research as well as from case examples, to highlight ways for everyone to add to a workplace culture where growth is
encouraged and learning and improvement feed directly into better systems of work.

Guest Speaker Jennifer Grogan Senior Safety Culture & Leadership Partner at ESB shares ESB’s safety culture programme and specifically the leadership practices which foster psychological safety in teams and support a healthy, safe and inclusive workplace along with many other positive outcomes.

Who is this webinar for?

This webinar will benefit many types of profiles and backgrounds including: 

• Supervisors/Managers 
• Human Resource and People Managers 
• Health & Safety Managers 
• Safety Representatives 
• Occupational Health Professionals 
• Anyone with an interest in workplace behavioural change

What will you gain from this webinar?

• Insights into what is psychological safety 
• What are its benefits 
• How to help foster it – leadership role 
• Differences between psychological safety and general safety 
• How to sustain a culture of psychological safety 
• Key insights to help you start to identify mechanisms for psychological safety

Watch the Recording:

Presentations are available to view below. Please note these are owned by the Health and Safety Authority and may not be used by outside parties without explicit permission from the Authority.

Webinar on Reducing Interpersonal Conflict at Work

The Occupational Health Division of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) invites you to this free webinar to help you reduce and better manage interpersonal conflict at work thereby creating a healthy and safe environment for all staff. Speakers from the HSA will share information and guidance to help you identify conflict and implement strategies to better manage it. Guest speaker Dr Paolo Yaranon from the University of Limerick will present his doctoral research on the causes and consequences of negative workplace behaviour.

Who should attend?

This free webinar will benefit many types of profiles and backgrounds including:

• Supervisors/Managers
• Human Resource and People Managers
• Health & Safety Managers
• Safety Representatives
• Occupational Health Professionals
• Anyone with an interest in workplace behavioural change

Watch the recording:

Presentations available below:

These slides are owned by the Health and Safety Authority and are not permitted for use outside of the Health and Safety Authority.

Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age (Cork and Dublin)

EU Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2023-2025

The Health and Safety Authority held two seminars on the EU Healthy Workplaces Campaign which aims to raise awareness around the Occupational Safety and Health challenges, risks and opportunities related to the digital age.

Who are these seminars for?

All interested individuals or organisations of any size and of any sector, including;

• Employers, managers, workers and safety reps from public and private sectors
• Policymakers
• OSH research community
• Safety professionals
• Media
• Suppliers, designers, programmers in area of digitisation
• Start-up community
• Relevant government bodies

Speakers and Topics:

• Patricia Murray, Work and Organisational Psychologist, HSA - Psychosocial Risks in the Changing World of Work
• Colleen Butler, HSA Inspector (Human Factors) - Automation: A Human Factors Perspective
• Padraig Delaney, HSA Inspector, (Policy and Technical) - Robotics, Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace.
• Michael Gillen, IBEC, - Digitalisation, an employer’s perspective
• Brian Molloy, HSA Inspector - Managing remote working and a distributed workforce – occupational health and safety guidance and supports

Download the presentation below

EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Conference

Hosted by HSA and EPA

The Health and Safety Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency hosted the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability in October 2023, focusing on what the future may hold for EU chemicals legislation.

The European Commission published a chemicals strategy for sustainability on 14 October 2020. It is part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition, which is a key commitment of the European Green Deal. There are a number of actions already underway under the strategy, spanning key chemical and circular economy policy areas.

Gain an up to date insight from a diverse range of speakers including those from the European Commission, ECHA and the EEA, into actions under the strategy and what the future may look like for stakeholders.

Video Recordings

Download the presentations below

Webinar on Practical Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Construction November 23rd 2023

The Health and Safety Authority in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society hosted this webinar on practical ergonomics risk assessment tools tailored for those working in construction.

Ergonomics aims to design tasks so that people can perform their work within their capabilities, protecting their musculoskeletal health while enabling them to work more efficiently.

Attendees gained an insight to practical risk assessment tools to quantify ergonomic risks. They also gained an understanding of the importance of controlling risk through the introduction of innovative engineering solutions or by changing the way work is planned and organised. The webinar includes case studies demonstrating the application of practical approaches to risk assessment and problem solving through worker consultation. The case studies also detail the tangible benefits arising from the interventions by way of reduced risk of musculoskeletal injury or ill health, improved human performance and productivity.

Who is the webinar for?

The workshop will be of a particular interest to:

• Health and Safety Professionals
• Project Supervisors for the Design Process
• Project Supervisors for the Construction stage
• Designers for Construction Projects
• Contractors
• Safety Representatives
• Occupational Health Professionals
• Others that have an interest in the science and management of work

Webinar Topics and Speakers

Managing Ergonomic Risk Exposure: H.S.A. Strategy and Intervention

Frank Power – Senior Ergonomist (Inspector), Health and Safety Authority

Introduction to the Ergonomic Risk Assessment Tool

Ita Leyden (Leyden Consulting & Engineering)

Practical use of the Rapp Tool and Art Tool 

Ita Leyden (Leyden Consulting Engineering)

Before Watching

Please make use of the below documents and resources before attending this webinar: 

• Ergonomics online course:  “Introduction to Ergonomic Risk Assessment”
• Ergonomics Risk Assessment Guidance
• Construction Ergonomics Case Study
• Ergonomics Risk Assessment Tools