Safety Alerts

SAFETY ALERTS

11 June 2020 – Face Masks Designated KN95

Safety Alert: Use of face masks designated KN95
Issued by: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) UK
Background: A substantial number of face masks, claiming to be of KN95 standards, provide an inadequate level of protection and are likely to be poor quality products accompanied by fake or fraudulent paperwork. These face masks may also be known as filtering facepiece respirators.
KN95 is a performance rating under the Chinese standard GB2626:2006, the requirements of which are broadly the same as the European standard BSEN149:2001+A1:2009 for FFP2 facemasks. However, there is no independent certification or assurance of their quality and products manufactured to KN95 rating are declared as compliant by the manufacturer.
Recommended action: 

• KN95 must not be used as PPE at work as their effectiveness cannot be assured.
• Masks that are not CE marked and cannot be shown to be compliant must be removed from supply immediately. If these masks have not been through the necessary safety assessments, their effectiveness in controlling risks to health cannot be assured for anyone buying or using them. They are unlikely to provide the protection expected or required.
• If any are CE marked, suppliers must be able to demonstrate how they know the documentation and CE marking is genuine, supported by Notified Body documentation showing compliance with the essential health and safety requirements as required by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (EU) 2016/425.

Click here for further advice and to read this safety alert in full.

26 May 2020 – Vehicle Scissor Lifts

Safety Alert: Vehicle Scissor Lifts
Issued by: Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Background: The HSA issued this safety alert to warn owners and examiners of vehicle service lifts (scissor type) of the potential for hairline cracks. It follows the detection of hairline cracks in vehicle scissor lifts, type “Duo” manufactured by Maha, revealed during thorough examination of the lifts.
Target audience: Owners and users of these vehicle scissors lifts and to maintenance and inspection personnel.
Risk: Any person working underneath a raised vehicle lift is at serious risk of crush injuries if the lift fails.
The cracking in the Maha “Duo” vehicle scissor lifts appears to have occurred towards the end of the life cycle of the lifts. The cracks are located at the cross member interconnection and take three forms:

• Circular cracking around the bushing collar
• Cracking from the bushing collar into the lift leg
• Combination of above.

(Photo examples available at hsa.ie)
Recommended action: The HSA is advising owners and operators of Maha “Duo” type lifts who may not have had their lifts inspected, to ensure that they are inspected immediately.
The HSA also advises lift maintenance and inspection personnel to be aware of the hairline cracks detected in Maha “Duo” lifts and to check vehicle scissors lifts for these cracks immediately and on an ongoing basis during inspection and thorough examination, throughout its life cycle.
Click here for further advice and to read this safety alert in full.

12 May 2020 – Air suspension systems on vehicles

Safety Alert: Air suspension systems on vehicles
Issued by: Health and Safety Executive UK (HSE)
Background: The HSE has investigated several serious incidents, including fatalities, involving air suspension systems on vehicles that have failed.
Target audience: Those carrying out or responsible for work on vehicles with air suspension systems. This includes motor vehicle repair workshops, the roadside repair and recovery industry and customer sites where this work is undertaken.
Key issues and recommended actions: HSE has investigated several serious incidents involving air suspension systems on vehicles. The two main causes are collapse of inadequately supported vehicles and unintended rupture or release of components from the air suspension system.
You should

• Undertake minimal repair work at the roadside or third-party premises. The best place to undertake such work is at an adequately equipped vehicle repair facility.
• Prevent movement of air suspension, either by deflating the system or by using suitably rated props or stands to prevent the chassis lowering. Under no circumstances should air suspension be relied upon to maintain a vehicle’s ride height or position whilst people gain access to areas where they may become trapped.
• Exhaust the air from the air suspension system before working on it.
• Isolate the air suspension system by physical disconnection of the air supply before working on it. You should not use clamping of air suspension pipework as a means of temporary isolation as it is not secure.

Click here for further details and to read this safety alert in full.

12 March 2020 – Construction work on farms and use of concrete slats

Safety Alert: Construction work on farms and use of concrete slats
Issued by: Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Background: The HSA issued this safety alert following a fatal accident involving construction work on a farm.
Details: The alert lays out several important safety points that must be taken into account in relation to concrete slats for use in agricultural sheds:

• Cattle slats should not be subject to vehicular traffic under any circumstances
• Tractor slats are designed for a maximum axle load of 7.8 tonne which should not be exceeded
• Slats should not be subjected to excessive point loading
• All slats should be subject to regular integrity monitoring after 10-15 years
• Farmers must not enter tanks even when empty and must follow guidance on slat inspection.

Construction work on farms
Where construction work is being considered on a farm, the farmer must ensure that the work is designed to be suitable for the intended purpose, is built in a safe manner and can be used and maintained in a safe manner after being built.
Click here to read this safety alert in full.

22 November 2019 – Ellickson Engineering Ltd. Passenger Lifts

Safety Alert: Passenger lifts installed by Ellickson Engineering Ltd.
Issued by: Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Background: The HSA has issued this safety alert to inform owners / operators of lifts installed by Ellickson Engineering Ltd. (no longer trading) to carry out checks to ensure the lifts have been installed as required under the legislation.
Models affected: The HSA advises that the passenger lifts marked with the number CE490 may not have been designed and/or installed in compliance with relevant legislation as CE490 is not a valid notified body number. Owners and operators of lifts installed by Ellickson Engineering Ltd. Also need to take action if the Notified Body number is not displayed and/or the CE is Marked with a different Notified Body number.
Please click here to read this safety alert in full.

22 November 2019 – Lift – defective work gear

Issued by: Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Background: A safety alert has been issued to warn of elevator lifts with defective worm gear following a fatal accident in the Netherlands.
Models affected: This alert refers to the Ziehl-Abegg Elevator with worm gear of Type / Model No:  ZAS0, ZAS1, ZAS2, ZAS3.
It has been identified that one or more of the six hard steel nuts which secure the worm gear to the flange from the axle to the traction sheave may become loose. The worm gear may thus become detached from the drive shaft and result in an uncontrolled movement of the lift cabin.
The HSA wish to bring this safety alert and relevant information to the attention of owners and users of this lift type as well as maintenance and inspection personnel.
Required action:

• Elevator lift installations with this worm gear should be taken out of use until an inspection by a competent engineer has been carried out and any necessary remedial action taken.
• Elevator maintenance and inspection personnel to check security of nuts during inspection / maintenance.

Please click here to read this safety alert in full.

19 November 2019 – Baled recycling material

Issued by: The Health and Safety Authority
Background: The HSA issued this safety alert following fatalities where employees were fatally injured when stacks of recycled material collapsed on top of them.
If recycled material is not stacked correctly it can cause the stack to become unstable and collapse leading to devastating consequences if they fall on persons in the vicinity of the collapse.
There are various factors which affect stack stability including the size, weight, shape and density of the bales; the type of material in the bale; whether the bales are subjected to heat, cold or sunlight; bale strapping and unseen material that may break down over time.
Required actions: Employers must carry out a risk assessment to identify the hazards associated with stacking the various types of recycled material and then must put in place control measures to control the risks.
For a detailed list of risks and control measures please click here.

20 August 2019 – Catastrophic rupture of dead-leg pipe work

Issued by: Health and Safety Executive [UK]
Target audience: Operators of Process Plant (and associated inspection bodies) which may have pipe-work dead-legs on toxic, flammable, dangerous to the environment or other critical services.

• Oil and gas (onshore / offshore)
• Chemical processing and production
• Nuclear
• Pharmaceutical
• Power production

Key issues: This safety alert highlights the increased risks of primary containment loss associated with dead-legs that may be present on process pipe-work. Dead-legs are lines containing process fluids under stagnant, no or low flow conditions.
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks of corrosion in dead-legs and where they can’t be eliminated, remind operators of the guidance on how to inspect these areas to avoid loss of containment.
Actions required: Operators of process plant should ensure that their pipework examination regime takes account of dead-legs, and in particular that:

• Dead-legs are eliminated wherever possible, and minimised thereafter;
• The risk assessment and associated examination regime takes account of conditions which may be peculiar to dead-legs, including thermal gradients, interfaces, solid/corrosion deposits, condensation points etc., and that the frequency of examination and level of scrutiny reflects potentially aggressive and localised deterioration. Where there is additional environmental threat, an absence of secondary/tertiary containment should influence the risk assessment.
• The integrity regime should monitor pipework wall thickness so that localised deterioration is captured, checks are undertaken with sufficient frequency, and repair or retirement and replacement is undertaken in good time;
• Process lines which are redundant but retained for future use are left in a safe state, and thoroughly checked for integrity before being reinstated.

Please click here to read this safety alert in full.

7 August 2019 – Phenomenon of condensate induced water hammer

Issued by: Health and Safety Executive [UK]
Target audience: Operators of major pressure systems involving steam, including the following:
Chemical processing and production; Electricity generation; Engineering; Food Packaging and processing; Gas; Metals and Minerals processing and production; Manufacturing (general); Nuclear; Offshore
Key issues: Intent of notice is to remind operators of the risks of steam condensate water hammer following an incident.
Following an incident currently being investigated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, HSE is issuing this safety notice to remind duty-holders about condensate induced water hammer, and their responsibilities in terms of the maintenance and operation of steam systems. This notice is concerned with existing installations and assumes that the steam system has been appropriately designed.
Action required: Dutyholders should remind themselves about this phenomenon in steam systems and ensure suitable measures are taken to prevent the occurrence of such events, including the appropriate operation and maintenance of such systems on their sites.
HSE recommend that the 5 point action plan detailed in the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) factsheet; “potential hazards created by water hammer in steam systems” is considered.
This includes taking into account the following:

• Enhanced training of boiler operators;
• Slope of pipework and drainage;
• Positions where condensate could collect;
• Operation of traps;
• Isolation valves.

SAFed’s full fact sheet can be viewed on their website.
Please click here to read this safety alert in full.

2 August 2019 – ICAR Capacitors in UPS Systems

Safety Alert: Use of ICAR Capacitors in uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems
Issued by: Health and Safety Executive [UK]
Target audience: 
All users of industrial uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems including, but not limited to, the chemical industry, energy industry, offshore oil and gas production and other users of high capacity electrical capacitors in industrial equipment.
Affected capacitors are known to be found in some models of UPS system manufactured by Vertiv Infrastructure, previously trading as Emerson or Chloride.
As noted above, affected capacitors may also be found in other industrial equipment and users of such equipment should use the information in this safety alert to assess the ongoing risk of using this equipment and the need to consider further risk control measures.
UPS system manufacturer Vertiv Infrastructure Ltd has taken steps to alert known users of its UPS systems which may have contained the affected capacitors about this safety issue.
The importer of the capacitors (PSL Assemblies Limited) has taken steps to alert one customer known to have purchased the affected capacitors.
Potential Danger From:

• Fire and any consequential issues arising from the possible loss of power to connected equipment.
• Two fires in industrial UPS systems were caused by the failure (due to overheating) of self-healing polypropylene capacitors manufactured by ICAR of Monza, Italy.
• Capacitor model numbers known to be affected are:
  ICAR LNF-P3B-200-27
  ICAR LNF-P3X-200-38

Action Required:

• Dutyholders are advised to take a precautionary approach and consider prompt replacement of both capacitor models.
• Dutyholders are also advised to review ventilation and cooling requirements for UPS systems.

Please click here to read the safety alert in full.

19 July 2019 – Portable Medical Oxygen/Entonox (Integral Valve) Cylinders

Safety Alert: Use of Portable Medical Oxygen/Entonox (Integral Valve) Cylinders
Issued by: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
The HSA has issued this revised Safety Alert [first issued in 2017] in relation to the use of CD Portable Medical Oxygen Cylinders and ED Portable ENTONOX ® Cylinders, which are medicinal products incorporating a medical device as part of their closure system.
Portable Medical Oxygen and ENTONOX cylinders are utilised throughout and across all aspects of the healthcare system to provide a temporary uninterrupted portable oxygen supply to patients. They are further utilised in the home environment to enhance quality of life for oxygen dependent patients.
Operatives need to be mindful of the following potential occurrences and treat the Medical Oxygen and ENTONOX cylinders with due care and attention at all times.
Potential Occurrence 1: Although rare, when the valve of a Medical Oxygen cylinder is initially opened and a flow selected, an ignition within the cylinder valve can occur potentially leading to hot sparks being emitted.
Potential Occurrence 2: When the valve of a Medical Oxygen or Entonox cylinder is initially opened, an uncontrolled release or escape of the gas can sometimes occur.
General Advice

Vigilance and attention by the operator during preparation / set up is of critical importance.
Oxygen / Entonox cylinders should be set up and prepared for use in a safe place away from the patient.

• Always follow manufacturers’ “Instructions for Use” to ensure safe preparation, set-up and safe therapy delivery.
• When setting up the cylinder, ensure there are no sources of ignition, combustible materials or anyone smoking in the vicinity.
• Never use oil or grease when using an oxygen cylinder or associated delivery equipment. Oils and greases can automatically ignite when in the presence of oxygen at high temperatures.

 Preparation / Set up of the cylinder includes:

• Attaching the tubing to the cylinder;
• Opening the valve (slowly)
• Selecting a flow rate

During preparation/ set up – at all times observe for unusual noises or events and the potential occurrences outlined above. When opening the cylinder valve a click may be heard as the gas enters the valve. This will occur when the valve is operating normally.
Always open and close the cylinder valve slowly.

• Opening the valve quickly can cause the gas to become hot which may, in extreme conditions, lead to an external fire. Although Oxygen is non-flammable it will strongly support combustion once a fire has started.

During set up and testing the cylinder outlets should be facing away from the patient, bed and operator.
Ensure that the cylinder is functioning correctly before administering the gas to the patient.
Do not place the cylinder on the patient’s bed unless there is no alternative and never do so before set up and testing has been completed.

• Use extra care when there is no alternative to placing the cylinder on the bed, ensuring that the cylinder is functioning correctly.

Should any adverse event occur, the cylinder and associated attachments should be appropriately segregated and stored as per manufacturer’s instructions for examination.

• The event should be reported to the health service provider, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the gas provider/ supplier.
• Should a dangerous occurrence arise the event should be reported to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

Please click here to read this safety alert in full.

18 March 2019 – Platform Lifts – Risk of Falls from Height

Safety Alert: Platform Lifts (Vertical lifting platforms for people with impaired mobility) – Risk of falls from height to employees/workers and members of the public.
Issued by: Health and Safety Executive (UK)
Target audience: 

• • • Platform lift maintenance companies
    • Owners and operators of platform lifts in a range of sectors (e.g. health and social care, hospitals, public buildings, schools etc.).

Potential dangers:

• • • inadequate maintenance of door components
    • inappropriate adjustment of door locks
    • interference with zone bypass switches at doors
    • unauthorised access to lift well (shaft) when the lifting platform (lift car) is at a different level

Required actions: 

• • 1. Lift maintenance companies should ensure maintenance activities are undertaken by competent personnel; in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and/or guidance; and in accordance with a safe system of work. Maintenance of the safety elements of the lift must not affect its safe operation. Modifications intended to keep a lift operating but which may result in unsafe operation must not be carried out under any circumstances.
    2. Owners and operators of vertical lifting platforms should:
       • • review maintenance and inspection procedures to ensure that these tasks are carried out by persons competent to do so
         • introduce simple tests into daily checks for the lifts to confirm that:
           • Landing doors cannot be opened when the platform is not at the same level and;
           • The platform cannot travel without the doors closed and locked
             The checks should be carried out by a person who is competent to do so.

Click here to read this safety alert in full.

6 February 2019 – Electrical Hazards in Kitchens and Restaurants

Following a fatal electrocution, the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) has issuing a safety alert on the inherent dangers associated with electricity in a restaurant kitchen. In particular, the HSA is drawing attention to employers and managers of the dangers associated with older electrical installations and installations in harsh environments as may be found in restaurant kitchens.
Hazards associated with electricity may arise because of contact with live parts of the supply or as a result of fire caused by the installation or appliances.
The HSA has outlined the key steps to take as follows:

• • 1. Urgent action if anyone in the kitchen has experienced any instances of even mild shock or evidence of electric sparking.
    2. Ensure electrical accessories are suitably protected.
    3. Ensure all socket circuits are protected by a working RCD.
    4. Ensure that all metalwork is “bonded”.
    5. Ensure installation is regularly inspected and tested.

Click here to read this safety alert in full.

February 2019 – Change in enforcement expectations for mild steel welding fume

Issued by: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Target audience: All workers, employers, self employed, contractors and any others who undertake welding activities, including mild steel,  in any industry.
Key issues:

• • • There is new scientific evidence that exposure to all welding fume, including mild steel welding fume, can cause lung cancer.
    • There is also limited evidence linked to kidney cancer.
    • There is a change in HSE enforcement expectations in relation to the control of exposure of welding fume, including that from mild steel welding.
    • All businesses undertaking welding activities should ensure effective engineering controls are provided and correctly used to control fume arising from those welding activities.
    • Where engineering controls are not adequate to control all fume exposure, adequate and suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is also required to control risk from the residual fume.

Required actions:

• • 1. Make sure exposure to any welding fume released is adequately controlled using engineering controls (typically LEV).
    2. Make sure suitable controls are provided for all welding activities, irrelevant of duration.  This includes welding outdoors.
    3. Where engineering controls alone cannot control exposure, then adequate and suitable RPE should be provided to control risk from any residual fume.
    4. Make sure all engineering controls are correctly used, suitably maintained and are subject to thorough examination and test where required.
    5. Make sure any RPE is subject to an RPE  programme. An RPE programme encapsulates all the elements of RPE use you need to ensure that your RPE is effective in protecting the wearer.

Click here to read this safety alert in full.

21 June 2018 – Asbestos Containing Materials – Demolition

Target Audience: all duty-holders involved in the management of demolition or refurbishment works, including:

• • • Clients
    • Project Supervisors for the Design Process (PSDP)
    • Project Supervisors for the Construction Stage (PSCS)
    • Designers (including architects, engineers etc.)
    • Contractors

Duty holders are to ensure Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) are correctly identified before such works take place and are dealt with accordingly.
Required Actions: 

• • • An RDAS is carried out by a competent person well in advance of commencement of site works to comply with the 2006/2010 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Asbestos Regulations and the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 (the Construction Regulations). This facilitates effective planning of any necessary ‘pre-works’ ACM removals.
    • An RDAS is relevant to all pre-2000 commercial, agricultural and domestic refurbishment and demolition sites.
    • If a construction project presents a risk of disturbance of ACM, a PSDP and PSCS must be appointed in writing. Asbestos is a ‘Particular Risk’ as set out in Schedule 1 of the Construction Regulations.
    • The Preliminary Safety and Health Plan drawn up by the PSDP must address all particular risks including asbestos. This should include the results/findings of any asbestos survey (RDAS).
    • Where the site works are planned so as to avoid disturbance of any ACMs that are to remain in situ, the location of those ACMs must be communicated by the PSCS via the Safety and Health Plan to all contractors on site. This is to ensure that inadvertent disturbance of ACMs during the works is avoided

Leaving ACMs in situ for the duration of a refurbishment contract must be subject to a thorough risk assessment by a competent person.
Click here to read this safety alert in full.

14 May 2018 – Wood Pellets – Toxic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) issued the following safety alert following a fatal accident. This is an urgent alert on the inherent toxic dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning associated with wood pellets.
When transported or stored, even in normal conditions, wood pellets can emit Carbon Monoxide. Unnoticed, the Carbon Monoxide can build to toxic levels.
Carbon Monoxide will be present wherever Wood Pellets are transported & stored. Workers must be informed of the significant risk and dangers of carbon monoxide exposure associated with Wood Pellets.
Employers must identify such hazards in their workplace and produce written risk assessments and ensure arrangements are in place to ensure safety of employees.
Required Actions: 
Employers should:
1. IDENTIFY where wood pellets are stored (even if only for a short period of time).
2. ERECT and maintain asphyxiation warning signs.
3. PREVENT un-authorised access.
4. PREPARE & implement safe systems of work based on written risk assessment(s)
Employees should:
1. ALWAYS Assume Carbon Monoxide is present in areas where Wood Pellets are stored
2. NOT ENTER or place their head into a wood pellet storage unit/tank/vessel, even for a very short period of time without necessary precautions.
3. NOT ENTER storage unit/tank/vessel unless fully trained and competent in confined space entry.
4. TAKE extreme care during maintenance, especially when blockages happen, or when low levels of pellets occur.
5. KNOW that the presence of Carbon Monoxide cannot be determined without specialist equipment.
Click here to read this safety alert in full.

22 December 2017 – Sanli Chainsaw SCS4950

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advises owners and distributors of the portable chainsaw make Sanli SCS4950, that the importation company Tucks O’Brien Ltd. has agreed to a voluntary recall of this product. The recall is as a result of market surveillance testing carried out by the HSA that revealed serious safety defects with this machine.
The testing revealed that the dimensions of the front handle did not meet requirements. However, more importantly the chain catcher (a critical safety device) cracked during testing.
Required Actions: 

• • • With immediate effect, the chainsaw involved should no longer be used or provided to others.
    • Check StockPlease check your stock immediately to determine whether you still have any Products. If you have any Products in stock, please ensure that:• The Products are not resold• Inform Tucks O’Brien Ltd. of the existence of the Products by calling 01 4677000• Do not dispose of the Products• Tucks O’Brien Ltd will. advise you regarding the return of products
    • Information to End UserPlease send this alert with the heading “Important Safety Information” to your end users where you know the address of the end user (e.g. from sources such as invoices, receipts, online orders etc.).3. Commercial CustomersIn the event that you have sold Products to any commercial customers (e.g. wholesalers, online retail platforms, commodity exchanges etc.), please forward this Alert to them and request that they in turn forward an alert to their customers.4. FeedbackTucks O’Brien Ltd requests that you inform them as promptly as possible of the measures that you have taken and of the status of those measures.Consumers can check directly with Tucks O’Brien Ltd. If affected, owners should call, as soon as possible, the Tucks O’Brien Ltd number 01 4677000

Please note Tucks O’Brien Ltd. is solely responsible for managing this recall. All queries or clarifications must be made directly with Tucks O’Brien Ltd, not the HSA
Contact Details
Tucks O’Brien Ltd Ph: 01 4677000 Email:  marketing@tucksobrien.ie
Click here to read this safety alert in full.

22 September 2017 – Tail Lift Failure