About Us
The purpose of the Health and Safety Department is to assist in the facilitation of a positive health and safety culture in AMNCH and advise the hospital management regarding compliance with health and safety legislation and best practice.
The Health and Safety Department also run a number of health and safety training programmes for staff including, for example, fire safety, manual handling, chemical safety etc. We liaise and work closely with the Risk Management and Occupational Health Departments in terms of quality improvement projects and follow-up of reported accidents.
Members of the Health and Safety Department include:
| Health & Safety Co-ordinator/Head of Department | Laura Smith |
| Fire Safety Officer | Tony O'Brien |
| Clerical Support | Fiona Kenna |
The Safety Representative for the Hospital is Stephen Robinson.
Contact
| Health & Safety Co-ordinator/Head of Department | Laura Smith |
| Fire Safety Officer | Tony O'Brien |
| Clerical Support | Fiona Kenna |
Safety Representative Stephen Robinson
The Health and Safety Department is located in the HR port-a-cabins beside the canteen adjacent to the Occupational Health Department. This includes the main health and safety office and the health and safety training room.
Tel: (01) 414 2345
Fax: (01) 414 2876
E-mail: health&safety@amnch.ie
Staff
Laura Smith, B.Sc., M. Phil., CMIOSH
Health & Safety Co-ordinator/Head of Department
I have an honours degree in Environmental Health, which specialises in Health and Safety, Environmental Management and Food Safety. Having worked as a Health and Safety and Food Safety Manager for a short time, I returned to college to do a two years research Masters degree in health and safety. Some of this research was conducted at AMNCH. I am in post as the Health & Safety Co-ordinator since July, 2000. I was seconded to the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board (now forms part of HIQA) from June 2003 to July 2004 to co-ordinate the development of the revised second edition of the Acute Care Standards used in the accreditation process. I have also lectured on a number of courses in the DIT and TCD. I am a chartered member of the Institution of the Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in the UK.
Anthony O'Brien
Fire Safety Officer
I am in post as Fire Safety Officer since February 2003. Prior to this, I completed 26 years in the Irish Defence Forces. My time in the Army was spent in the Engineering Corps, doing 3 years in Field Engineering at Brigade level and 23 years with the Directorate of Engineering in Army Headquarters based in McKee Barracks Dublin. There, I worked for the last eighteen years in the Fire Advisory Section. In 1986 I qualified in Fire Safety having successfully passed the Intermediate Examination in Fire Engineering with the Institute Of Fire Engineers. In 1997 I gained Certificate Level in Health & Safety. In 1999 I further increased my qualification in Fire Safety having attended the University of Edinburgh and passed a paper in Fire Science and Investigation and was awarded The Membership Paper of the Institute of Fire Engineers. I am also a qualified Fire Warden Instructor, certified by The School of Engineering, Curragh, Co Kildare.
