Council’s top marks for safety in workplace

CORK County Council received a Higher Distinction award and a Consistent High Achiever award at the 2020 National Irish Safety Organisation Awards. These awards recognise the positive and proactive culture of safety in the organisation.

Cork County Council achieved these awards in recognition of its Safety Management System; an integrated and holistic approach for ensuring the safety of Council employees and any third parties that it operates with in providing services.

The system is based on international best practice and has achieved several significant accreditations.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley noted;

“During the past year Cork County Council has played a pivotal role in supporting the wider community through these challenging times. The Council’s Covid-19 Community Support Programme and Project ACT initiatives have provided vital social and economic support countywide. The organisation has achieved this while keeping staff safety and wellbeing at the forefront, supporting employees and ensuring continued support for the county. This is a great achievement for all involved.”

The Council’s Safety Management System earned OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Management Assessment Series) 18001 certification in 2017 becoming the first Local Authority to do so.

The accreditation lasted 3 years, during which time OHSAS 18001 was replaced with ISO 45001. Following its transition to the new Occupational Health and Safety requirements of the ISO standard, Cork County Council became a firsttime achiever in its field once again, achieving ISO 45001 accreditation, while the organisation supported the County Cork community in its response to Covid 19.

Achieving yet another first for a local authority, Cork County Council was also accredited with the IBEC “Keep Well Mark” in November of 2020, due to dedicated efforts to promote health and wellbeing as part of the Safety Management System. The IBEC “Keep Well Mark” standard reflects success in the eight target areas of leadership, health and safety, absence management, physical activity, mental health, smoke free, intoxicants and healthy eating.