On the 9th May 2020 the Government published it’s guidance on the safe return to work for employers and workers. The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the 5 phases being used to reopen Ireland after the COVID-19 shutdown. Phase 1 comes into operation on the 18th May. That sees a return for outdoor workers, construction, garden centres…
There is a statutory obligation on the occupiers of premises to conduct emergency evacuation exercises at least once per year. Many organisations simply conduct haphazard fire drills where the fire alarm is activated, everyone leaves for a few minutes and then returns. Such drills do not actually test the sites ability to safely get everyone out and account for every…
“Why don’t the evening shift get specific training exercises?” was a question we were recently asked, while delivering a briefing on updates to the emergency response plan for a client. The safety of the workforce is at the pinnacle of every decision and action taken by that client. They have an excellent emergency response plan, with well trained and exercised…
On the 10th September 2017, Belfast’s newest luxury hotel opened its doors. The former Harland and Wolff Drawing Offices have been transformed into a five-star hotel by Harcourt Development. The hotel is finished to the highest standards and is steeped in the history and culture of Belfast and HMS Titanic. Cuttle Consulting are honoured to be chosen by Harcourt…
We were recently engaged to design and deliver an emergency exercise for the 2017 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which will take place in Ennis, Co Clare in August. Emergency planning and preparedness is an essential part of any large crowd event. The Fleadh lasts for eight days and attracts up to 400,000 people in that period. The exercise scenarios were…
We recently designed and delivered a medical emergency exercise inside an ATEX area at a client’s premises. The scenario was selected to test the facilities’ ability to respond quickly to a medical emergency in a restricted area. Under normal circumstances anyone entering an ATEX area will go through a gowning-up process where potential sources of ignition or contamination are removed….
We have just completed a chemical spill exercise for a manufacturing client. The exercise was written to test the facilities emergency response team, chemical spill team, first aiders and portable bunding capabilities. The handling and storage of chemicals is governed by the Chemicals Acts and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. These provide for a set of guidelines…
After many years of job losses and stagnation, it is great to see that so many businesses are now recruiting again. When new recruits arrive on site they are given the usual inductions that are required to appease the SHWWA and the organisation’s HR policies. But is that enough? The safety culture that exists in workplaces is exactly that,…
Over the past few months we have been working with a client who has multiple facilities over a large geographical area. They have a critical incident plan, which in theory, should work well in the event of a critical incident. Like all such plans it is little more than a fancy document until it is tested. We conducted workshops and…
We recently completed the review of the Critical Incident Plan for a client. The plan is just a document until it is tested to see if it is fit for purpose and are the nominated role holders confident with their roles, responsibilities and mandates. This week we gave a presentation on the plan, to the Executive Management Team who understand…
