Winning an inaugural national competition, designing Site Specific Safety Management Systems for a local company, working with a Primary School to promote health and safety work practices – these are just some of the contributions this year’s Occupational Safety students have made to Irish workplaces.
The long-established Occupational Safety and Health Programme at IT Sligo has turned teaching practice on its head with great success. Two years ago, IT Sligo lecturers worked together to design and apply newer teaching concepts moving out of the lecture hall and into the workplace. Occupational Safety and Health students work in small groups on real-life health and safety problems. They gain the necessary skills to ‘walk the talk’ and apply the techniques they learned to a wide variety of real-life situations.
In recent months, students have gone from the safety of the classroom to win a National Safety Competition with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA); work with McMonagle’s Stone, one of Donegal’s largest employers and with a primary school in Boyle, Co Roscommon.
The HSA ‘Safety and Design Competition’ was designed to encourage students from engineering and Health and Safety disciplines to work together as a team to develop a health and safety proposal for a large construction projects. Supported by lecturer, Mary Hannon, two out of the five finalists were from IT Sligo, a significant achievement when competitors were drawn from throughout the Institute of Technology and University Sectors. Commenting on winning the competition and €3,000 prize, Noel Mc Loughlin, a health and safety student from Sligo, said this project ‘showed me how working in a team with other students provides many practical learning opportunities’.
During the year, students studying for their B.Sc. Honours in Occupational Safety and Health worked with one of the largest employers in Donegal McMonagle Stone to develop a site-specific Safety Management System for the company.
Most businesses would be aware that the need to keep abreast of the ever – increasing amount of health and safety legislation is paramount. The students consulted with employees and management in the development of a system which allows the company to effectively manage safety and health and prioritise where safety initiatives are best targeted. Commenting on his experience working with the fourth year IT Sligo students, Daniel McMonagle, operations director, says that, ‘the students demonstrated that they understood the needs of our business and devised an applied Safety Management System. This ensures that my business continues to be compliant but beyond that, it makes suggestions for future improvements and for a positive and safe working environment.’
The students themselves felt the whole experience very challenging and very worthwhile. Mark Mc Kenna from Emyvale in Monaghan says: ‘I put all I learned over the years into practice and was really motivated to work with my team to find the most practical solutions to the company’s health and safety issues. Sarah McWalter from Tuam in Co.Galway said; ‘Knowing the system we devised could be challenged by the employees and the management of Mc Monagle Stone meant we had to be sure what we suggested would work. It really built my confidence and I know I will be able to advise any employer on health and safety as a result of this experience’.
In keeping with the ‘Walk the Talk‘ concept, a team of IT Sligo Master Students worked with Scoil na Naingeal Naofa in Boyle, to promote its health and safety work practices. Masters Student, John McNamara from County Westmeath says: ‘it was challenging because it was a real-life project and I learned a lot about myself as a team player and a problem solver’.
Blaithin McGrath, Occupational Safety & Health Programme comments on the career options available to graduates. ‘At this time of year, students have some time to reflect on their CAO choices to ensure they will choose a course with good career prospects and one they will enjoy. European and Irish Safety legislation ensures there will continue to be good job prospects as all employers are required to ensure their workplaces are safe.
The work of the health and safety professional has enormous variety with our course preparing them to work in all sectors. Our graduates have secured health and safety positions within pharmaceutical, healthcare, local authorities, retail, HSA, electronics, engineering, construction, leisure and tourism and as consultants and trainers. The course uses innovative teaching and real world experiences aimed at creating a learning environment where the students can develop their transferable skills and professionalism which is something all employers are looking for in today’s graduates. Also, along with being International Occupation Safety and Health (IOSH) accredited, graduates with qualifications from our course are recognised across the globe – from Australia to Canada.
There are many routes into this programme, and if you would like to discuss your options, contact Blaithin on mcgrath.blaithin@nullitsligo.ie. e-mail: safety@nullitsligo.ie or walkthetalk@nullitsligo.ie.
If your business would like to be considered by the Occupational Safety and Health Programme for inclusion as one of our Industry partners we would be delighted to give you more information. All companies are welcome from those which have very little in place to secure health and safety to those that have extensive systems and all those in between!’ concludes Blaithin.
McMonagle Stone Team:
Front Row (Left to Right): Mark McKenna (Emyvale, Co. Monaghan); Pat Moore (Mc Monagle Stone, Donegal); Sarah McWalter (Tuam, Co. Galway); Daniel McMonagle (Mc Monagle Stone, Donegal); Blaithin McGrath, Programme Director IT Sligo.
Back Row (Left to Right): Elaine Daly (Athleague, Co.Roscommon) & Barry Sullivan (Granard, Co. Longford)
Scoil na Naingeal Naofa, Boyle, Team
Paul Bourke (Sligo); Noelle Sheridan (Granard, Co. Longford); John McLoughlin (Principle Scoil na Naingeal Naofa); Michelle Bourke (Belleek, Co. Mayo); Fr. Alan Conway (Chairperson); Brian O’Connor (Cliffoney, Co. Sligo)
For further information contact:
Blaithin McGrath
Programme Chair Occupational Safety and Health
School of Science
IT Sligo
071-9155282