ESB safety responsibilities

Each separate business of ESB Group will provide the resources, systems and controls necessary to:

• Manage and conduct work activities in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all staff and any other persons at the work location.
• Exercise its general duties as an employer so as to ensure:
  • A safe place of work is designed and maintained.
  • Safe means of access and egress from any workplace under its control.
  • Safe design, construction and operation of well-maintained plant, machinery and equipment.
  • Safe systems of work.
  • Provision of the necessary safety instruction, training, information and supervision.
  • Prevention of risk to health from the use of any article or substance.
  • Provision and maintenance of facilities and arrangements for the welfare of employees.
  • Provision of suitable and adequate personal protective equipment as required where hazards cannot be eliminated.
  • Preparation and revision of emergency plans to deal with any foreseeable incidents.
  • Provision of the services of competent persons to advise and assist ESB management in securing the safety, health and welfare at work of employees.
• Ensure that the nine general principles of prevention listed under Schedule 3 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2005) and the application of these principles in the construction regulations (S.I. 504 of 2006) are adhered to. The nine general principles of prevention are listed in Appendix 1 - download the full ESB Safety Policy here (PDF | 61KB).
• Ensure, in as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of the general public and others who may be affected by ESB activities and operations.
• Identify the hazards associated with the activities of its businesses, assess the risks, specify the controls necessary to eliminate or minimise the risks and inform the employees about these risks and instruct them in their control.
• Meet all legal and regulatory safety obligations and standards and constantly strive to exceed them.
• Report all specified dangerous accidents and occurrences to the Health and Safety Authority.
• Ensure a safe working environment which recognises the right to dignity of each staff member and that a range of supports are readily accessible e.g. Employee Assistance Programme.
• Ensure that the responsible managers develop complementary and comprehensive safety statements for each separate business area and subsidiary management areas as appropriate which shall:
  • Identify the particular hazards,
  • Assess the risks, including an assessment of any particular aspect of the individual undertaking the task (gender, disability etc.), on the scale of the risk.
  • Give specific consideration to the change in risks that may arise through pregnancy and related conditions addressed under the Maternity Protection Act 1994.
  • Specify the controls necessary to eliminate or minimise the risks,
  • Detail the organisational arrangements and responsibilities for safety in those management units
  • and in all other respects fully comply with the statutory provisions of Section 20 of Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Ensure that relevant policies and procedures are adhered to and that appropriate training, if required, is provided to enable this to happen.
• Promote the general mental and physical health and wellbeing of staff
• Have safety audits carried out in all management areas in accordance with ESB Safety Audit Policy, to have remedial action taken where necessary, and to have the audit results reported as appropriate.

About ESB Occupational Health Services

ESB is proactive in its approach to health matters. This approach is supported by specific policies, charters, codes of practice and guidance on such matters as:

• Alcoholism
• AIDS
• Cultural diversity
• Dignity at work
• Disability
• Electrical safety practice
• Electric fields
• Harassment and bullying
• Life work balance and
• Sexual harassment

ESB Occupational Health Services provides a full range of occupational health information and support to all of ESB, including:

• Pre-employment health screening
• Management-referred medical assessment
• Overseas travel advice and vaccinations
• Advice on international health alerts
• Asbestos surveillance
• Audiology testing
• General health screening programmes
• Health promotion campaigns

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