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Maintenance safety alerts

Health and safety

Health and safety authority (HSA) safety alert banner

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has issued some critical maintenance safety alerts recently.

It is essential that these alerts are noted and acted upon, to provide a safe work environment for staff, maintenance personnel and indeed the general public (in some cases).

Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP)

These platforms are often used, carrying out maintenance work on heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems at high level.

View mobile elevated work platform safety alert »

Passenger lifts

Following on from the tragic death of a three-year old boy in Galway city on Monday 13 January last, the HSA compiled the following alert for the attention of persons who are in control of passenger lifts and those who maintain passenger lifts on 24 January.

A section of the report for “Employers and persons in control”, states:

  • Employers and persons in control should ensure checks are carried out by competent persons to ensure their lift/s comply with required standards.
  • Should issues arise as outlined above, controls should be put in place to ensure the safety of all persons using the lift.
  • The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places duties on employers and persons who have control to any extent of a place of work to ensure that the means of access to and egress there from and any article provided for use are safe and without risk to health.
  • Those responsible for the operation of passenger lifts should also ensure that they have a current report of thorough examination (required every 6 months). They should also be in possession of a log-book where details of any repairs or checks have been recorded.

View passenger lifts safety alert »

Use of generators (during power outages)

This alert specifically relates to damage to the ESB network, arising out of the recent storms, which put ESB staff at risk, as a result of electrical generators are being used to provide temporary replacement power.

View generators safety alert »

 

If you have any concerns, check with your maintenance company. Don’t forget, the Health and Safety Authority can be contacted if in any doubt.