Author Archives: Irene Kenny

Irish employment legislation on intoxicants in the workplace – Complying with Section 13 (b) of the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005.

 The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (SHWW) Act 2005 came into force in September 2005 and contained two provisions. Section 13(1) b requires employers to remove an employee from their place of work, who report for work under the influence of an intoxicant. Section 13 (1)c contained proposals for employee intoxicant testing which would […]

Workplace mental health is now a safety issue

Is your EAP relevant and fit for purpose? Major differences have developed in response to workplace mental health between the US, the 51 European countries and the 27 EU member states. In July of this year a new global standard ISO 45003 was published and this will have future implications on how Safety Managers treat mental […]

Workplace mental health is now a safety issue- new guidance published in July 2021

The new occupational health and safety management standard ISO 45003  released in July 2021  provides  guidance for managing  psychological health and psychosocial risks in the workplace and  will have a major impact on safety and how EAP’s operate. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Magazine’s March 2019 issue focused on evaluating employee assistance […]

Employee Support Services – A new Direction for EAPS        

Since the inception of the first Occupational Alcoholism Programme in Ireland there have been many changes. The main focus has centered on providing employee counselling. The major forthcoming change is that employment legislation will require a more compliance based approach based on prevention and risk assessment. This move will challenge EA professionals to adapt to […]

Are EAPs past their ‘sell-by’ date? Will safety compliance be the future of workplace mental health disabilities?

Maurice and Don

Two EAP leaders, Don Jorgensen PhD of Human Factor Consulting based in Tucson Arizona in the US and Maurice Quinlan Director of the EAP Institute based Waterford Ireland will be joined by Finbarr Stapleton of Antaris Consulting Limerick Ireland to present a 3 hour online expert group meeting on Employee Support Services – Developing a […]

New Codes of Practice on Workplace Bullying Announced in December 2020

This Code of Practice came into effect on 23 December 2020 and from that date it replaces the Code of Practice entitled “Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work” which was issued by the HSA in March 2007 in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare […]