University of Limerick

OLLSCOIL LUIMNIGH

MINUTES

Meeting / : / Safety Representative Committee
Venue / : / Wood Room, Plassey House
Date / : / 10 September 2015
Time / : / 16h00 – 16h35
Attendance / : / P Thornton (Chair), G Armstrong, M B Moloney, T Considine, M Fernstrom, E Storan. M Toomey.
V Nolan (Recording Secretary)
Apologies / : / P Davern, T Foy, M Melin, G Swift, M Dineen
Action
1.
1.1
2.
2.1
3. / Apologies
NOTED P Thornton welcomed all in attendance to the meeting and V Nolan conveyed the apologies of the following committee members – P Davern, T Foy, M Melin, G Swift and M Dineen.
Minutes of previous meeting
NOTED Minutes of previous meeting – 9 April 2015 – were accepted as an accurate record of the meeting.
Matters arising from previous meeting
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4 / NOTED In the further discussion about safety cabinets which store flammable liquids, it was agreed that Buildings & Estates in conjunction with UL’s insurers will prepare an email that the Safety Officer will issue to all departments who use flammable liquids.
NOTED P Thornton has written to the University’s Smarter Travel Co-ordinator Ross Higgins to report the blind spot for traffic at the junction where Mrs Bugler’s Road meets Plassey Park Road and is awaiting a response.
NOTED In answer to a query on when, or if, the County Council road will reopen to help alleviate traffic into campus, T Considine reported that B&E will advise the campus community when permission for use of this road has been granted to the University by the County Council.
NOTED G Armstrong advised that following completion and hand-over of MSSI extension next week, he expects to be able to progress with installing semi-permanent self-contained 940L liquid nitrogen dewer.
However, T Considine advised that this gas-yard is due to be dug-up imminently so he & G Armstrong agreed to meet to discuss delaying the installation of the dewer. / TC
GA, TC
3.5
3.6
4.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4 / NOTED Following discussions at Safety Reps Committee meetings earlier this year, G Armstrong advised that the requirement to continue with buddy system in cell-culture labs has been communicated to those involved.
NOTED S Clothier is currently drafting out-of-hours access document for the PESS Building and, as per T Considine’s instruction, he will send current draft to Gerald Hallinan, Pat McMahon and T Considine for input.
(c/f from previous minutes)
Accidents & Dangerous Occurrences
NOTED Since the last report, the following accidents were reported in respect of staff:
• A lifeguard slipped in the dressing room of the 50M swimming pool. He chipped a tooth and required stitches to his lip.
• A temporary/summer groundsperson was struck on the knee with a hand held hedge cutter. He required 8 stitches. Temporary Grounds Staff were required to wear sturdy clothing when hedge trimming.
NOTED Since the last report, the following accidents were reported in respect of students:
• An MSSI postgraduate cut her hand when a glass syringe she was using shattered. She required first aid treatment;
• A student slipped and fell on the white steps at Main Reception. It was reported that the steps were wet at the time as it was raining outside;
• A student was knocked off his bicycle at the Dromroe Roundabout. He was sent by ambulance to A&E and the Gardai were informed. In a follow-up call to him he reported that he is fine and that he started physiotherapy;
• A student fell from her bicycle in the Foundation Building car park. She received bruising and abrasions but did not require medical treatment;
• A student fainted during orientation week in the UCH. He cut his nose in the fall and after treatment by the nurse was sent to A&E for further tests;
• A student stepped on a nail in his kitchen in Kilmurry Village. He received a tetanus injection.
NOTED Since the last report, no accidents were reported in respect of contractors.
NOTED Since the last report, the following accidents were reported in respect of visitors:
• A school pupil broke a glass dropping funnel and cut his hand in a laboratory in the Lonsdale Building. He was referred to A&E where he received 6 stitches;
• A young child in the care of her mother fell on the pool viewing gallery steps. Her mother brought her to the doctor and there didn’t appear to be any injury;
• A conference delegate tripped and fell when carrying out a demonstration for her colleagues. She was assisted by a fellow delegate who was a physiotherapist;
• A conference delegate injured her Achilles tendon during a conference exercise. She was sent by ambulance to A&E;
• An employee of Nualtra (a start-up company based in the Tierney Building) cut her hand. Her wound required stitches; / SC
4.5
5.
5.1
5.2
6.
6.1 / • Pupils from St. Patrick’s School (Dublin Road) were involved in an incident whereby a section of seating broke away in the FB-028 lecture theatre. Two teaching staff members from the school complained of back strain as they lifted the broken seats away from the pupils.
NOTED Since the last report, the following dangerous occurrences were reported:
• A 25L expansion vessel in the Combined Heat Power (CHP) Plant in the Arena split from the weld and leaked. The vessel was replaced by external contractors who ensured that the system was operating within its design parameters. The incident was reported to the Health & Safety Authority as required by the General Application Regulations, 1993;
• A rubbish bin was maliciously set on fire at the 10 acre playing field and the fire spread to a tent that was adjacent to it. The incident occurred in the early hours and the Gardai and Fire Brigade attended the scene.
Any Other Business
NOTED G Armstrong raised an issue regarding the difference between UK & Irish regulations in the storage of flammable liquids within laboratory areas. The 50L maximum storage limit is a UK requirement whereas there is no regulated limit mentioned in the Irish regulations. P Thornton reported that the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) advised that the 50L limit should be adhered to. It was recommended that any deviation from the 50L recommendation should be as the result of the findings of a fire risk assessment.
NOTED G Armstrong queried whether flammable storage cabinets which pre-date the 2005 EN standard need to be replaced to ensure compliance. T Considine recommended that individual queries be directed to Buildings & Estates who will in turn send to the University’s insurers for an official answer.
Next Meeting
NOTED The next meeting of the Safety Representative Committee will take place Thursday 8th October at 16h00 in the Maunsell Room, Plassey House.

Safety Representative Committee 10-Sept-15 Page 1 of 3