Local businesses urged to carry out safe maintenance
25 October 2010
European Safety Week begins on October 25th and will promote the theme of safe maintenance in workplaces in more than 30 countries.
European Safety Week begins on October 25th and will promote the theme of safe maintenance in more than 30 countries. During the week, the Council's Environmental Health Section will be promoting the message that safe maintenance is the key to safety in the workplace. Maintenance-related accidents are a major cause of concern in Northern Ireland and this campaign is being run in conjunction with HSENI and the 26 distirct council's. In 2009/10 one third of all reportable fatalities in Northern Ireland were connected with maintenance-related activities.
Maintenance work can be particularly hazardous for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can often involve many of the most dangerous activities such as work at height, working with electricity and work with dangerous equipment. Secondly, it is often done on an ad hoc basis without a proper risk assessment having been carried out for the maintenance work itself. Thirdly, a significant amount of maintenance work is done by contractors who are not always familiar with the particular workplace.
Maintenance work needs to be planned and the risk assessed. There are five key areas to consider for safe maintenance. These are:
- Plan and conduct risk assessments for maintenance activities;
- Make the work area safe, secure and clean;
- Use appropriate equipment;
- Work as planned with no shortcuts;
- Make final checks to ensure that the task has been completed correctly, the item maintained is in a safe condition and any waste material generated has been cleaned away.
For local companies the message is clear; whether it's a job of long duration or short duration, or whether you're fixing a roof or repairing a piece of equipment, safe maintenance is vital.
For further information please contact:
Owen Fulton
Telephone: 028 93358000
E-Mail: owen.fulton@carrickfergus.org
Web: http://osha.europa.eu/_theme/Screens/maintenance/index.html
