Safety, Health and Wellbeing Calendar 2022
Quarter 2 (Apr-Jun) – Health and Wellbeing
Site Safety
The CIF has developed a Safety, Health and Wellbeing Calendar for 2022 to address the key focus areas for construction for the forthcoming year. Building upon the success of the annual Construction Safety Week, the intent is to promote a high level of focus on essential site safety considerations, as perceived by the CIF Safety and Health Subcommittee. Additionally, the calendar endeavours to provide an itinerary of key diary events for each calendar month to reflect national and international campaigns for safety, health and wellbeing.
The CIF for its part will provide toolbox talk materials and/or videos for each topic, which may be downloaded from the webpage to assist in communications. Additionally, persons are encouraged to share any lessons learned / best practices in health and safety through the CIF’s dedicated platform: Lesson Learned / Best Practice in Health & Safety – Construction Industry Federation (cif.ie)
April 2022
Focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing of all
COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of health in our outlook; the Government’s Healthy Ireland’ Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 outlines the importance of keeping active, staying connected, switching-off and being creative, eating well, minding your body and mood, and for ensuring healthy workplaces. In a shared toolbox, Robert O’Dowd and Niamh Gilmore (both of Mercury Engineering) emphasise how loss of income, the impact of social distancing and the associated fears have had a negative impact on our wellbeing, and that focus is required on workplace wellbeing. There are many key events occurring in April 2022, which deserve recognition, including World Health Day 2022 on 7th April, World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 on 28th April and Organ Donation Awareness Week stretching from 23-30th April.
May 2022
Focus on skin cancer prevention from prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet rays
May 2022 represents Skin Cancer Prevention Month. As advised by Kathy O’Leary (BAM Ireland) in her shared toolbox talk, “Working outside for all or part of the day exposes construction workers to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, even when it’s cloudy outside”. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with most cases caused by UV rays from the sun. While we may love to see the sun, it quickly becomes an occupational hazard to those working in it, and we need to protect workers and promote sun protection.
The CIF Health and Safety Summit 2022, as scheduled for 24th May at Croke Park sees Ireland’s construction sector coming together to reinforce and promote the importance of safety, health and overall wellbeing in both work and life.
June 2022
Focus on men’s health, both physiological and psychological
Men’s Health Week 2022 commences on 13th June and is coordinated by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI). Their research highlights that men experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and ultimately die younger than women do. Poor lifestyles are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases, whilst late presentation of symptoms or ill health to medical experts can hinder treatment.
World Blood Donor Day 2022 falls on 14th June, and the theme for this year is “Give blood and keep the world beating”.
Member Toolbox Talks
April 2022 – Mental Health and Wellbeing
“At Mercury Engineering, we believe that the Mental Health & Wellbeing of our staff and supply chain is crucial to our core value of “Work Safe Home Safe”, which is at the heart of our business.
In the construction industry, it is imperative to focus our attention on the mental health & wellbeing of our people to ensure their safety and to enhance their quality of living.”
Robert O’Dowd, Group EHS Manager, Mercury Engineering & Niamh Gilmore, Group Wellness Co-ordinator, Mercury Engineering
May 2022 – Skin Cancer Prevention
“I worked as a Contracts Manager with TTS Construction in Cairns Australia at one stage in my career. We were issued with a company uniform. I chose shorts and a short- sleeved shirt thinking ‘This is great – I’ll get paid and top up my tan’. Luckily, a very wise foreman I was working with showed me the many scars on his face and arms where he had sarcomas removed. Suffice to say the uniform changed to long trousers and a long- sleeved shirt. Thanks to him I am sure I have avoided the same fate.”
Kathy O’Leary Head of Health and Safety, BAM Ireland
June 2022 – Men’s Health
“Certain areas of the body need more looking after than others. One in five men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. This cancer is known as the ‘silent killer’ in men.”
Kieran Cullen, EHS Lead, John Sisk and Son Ltd.
CIF Member-only Content
CIF Construction Sector C-19 Pandemic SOP – V.11
27th October 2022 pdf (916KB)
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Other Member-only Content:
CIF – How to Lose Weight and Prevent Chronic Disease
CIF – Skin Cancer Prevention for Outdoor Workers
CIF – Mental Health in the Construction Sector – with Ger O’Brien and the Two Norries
CIF – Recorded Webinar – Mind your Health, with David Brady and Bill Hill
Irish Heart Foundation – Healthy Living
RediCare – Recorded Webinar – How to Lose Weight and Prevent Chronic Disease
Useful Downloads
HSE – Health Information and Awareness Calendar 2022
National Cancer Control Programme – SunSmart Risk Assessment Tool
AB Access Scaffolding Ltd. – Scaffold Site Audit and Do’s Don’t’s
Men’s Health Week 2022 – Toolbox
2022 SunSmart Campaign Pack
SunSmart Personal Risk Assessment Tool
Useful Links
Links are provided to resources, which reflect the focus areas for the CIF for April, May and June of 2022.
Useful Links for Mental Health and Wellbeing of all
CIF / Laya Healthcare / Spectrum Life – Build Health
CIF – CIF Health and Safety Summit 2022
Grow Mental Health – https://grow.ie/
HSE – Quit Smoking
ILO – World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022
The Irish Kidney Association – Organ Donation Awareness Week
Lighthouse Club – FREE 24/7 Confidential Employee Assistance Helpline / App
WHO – World Health Day 2022
Useful Links for Skin Cancer Prevention
HSE – www.hse.ie/sunsmart
HSE – SunSmart audit tool for skin cancer prevention in outdoor workers
HSE – SunSmart sample terms of reference for skin cancer prevention group
HSE – SunSmart Survey for skin cancer prevention in outdoor workers
HSE – Tools and resources for skin cancer prevention in outdoor workers
Irish Cancer Society – Cancer Awareness & Prevention
Met Eireann – UV Index
Useful Links for Men’s Health
M.A.L.E.s Ireland – http://malejourney.ie/
Men’s Health Forum Ireland – https://www.mhfi.org/
Men’s Health Forum Ireland – Middle-Aged Men and Suicide in Ireland
Irish Blood Transfusion Service – https://www.giveblood.ie/
Useful Videos
A selection of videos is provided, relevant to the focus areas.