Skip navigation 
Previous Page
8
NEWS
August/September 2012 www.esb.ie/em
JobBridge
EM continues to bring you case studies on some of the successful candidates who are on the Government’s jobs initiative, JobBridge, which we have been profiling in each issue. ESB has pledged to provide up to 200 internships throughout the company during the scheme’s lifetime.
CASE STUDY:
SARAH KEOGH
Sarah completed her schooling in 2006 and gained employment with WB Peats as Office Administrator/Cashier. She was made redundant in 2009 and subsequently joined the High Street chain store New Look as Sales Advisor. In 2011 Sarah found herself unemployed again and applied for a JobBridge internship as a Data Processor with ESB and commenced her nine-month internship on 5th December 2011. Her time in ESB was very productive and Sarah’s attention to detail and eagerness to learn new skills resulted in her mentor, Eddie Curry, very happy to give her an excellent reference. Sarah terminated her internship on 21st May having successfully secured a position with the O’Callaghan Hotel Group.
Chemical Safety Management in ESB
AS PART OF OUR day-to-day business in ESB Group, we use chemical products. To ensure the safety of staff, contractors and others who might be affected by our activities, only ESB pre-approved chemical products should be used. They should be used in accordance with the controls identified in risk assessments.
All chemical products in ESB Group must be procured, stored, used and disposed of, in compliance with relevant legislation, i.e the European Commission’s registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACh) regulations and the regulations on classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of substances and mixtures.
In order to achieve this we will:
- Comply with all applicable chemical safety legislation(REACh and CLP)
- Maintain a inventory of all chemicals products used
- Minimise the use of hazardous chemicals products
- Where reasonably practicable use the least hazardous chemical product
- Assess the risks arising from the use of hazardous chemicals products in the workplace to ensure the health and safety of staff, contractors and public
- Comply with current ESB Group Environment Policy in relation to chemical products storage, use and disposal
Examples of chemical products include:
- Bulk chemicals like caustic soda and sulphuric acid
- Kitchen and toilet cleaners
- Oils and greases
- Paints and thinners
- Printer toner and ink
In fact, there are more than 3,000 products listed in our Control of Hazardous Substances (COHS) database. You can view these at http://esbmoss/sc/pgam/cohs/default.aspx
Key requirements
Prior to commencing any work that involves the use of a chemical product:
- Ensure that the relevant chemical product Safety Data Sheet is listed on the approved list of the relevant website/database. (e.g. COHS in ESB Ireland operations) No work should commence without an approved Safety Data Sheet
- A suitable and sufficient risk assessment is carried out with reference to the Safety Data Sheet and other risk factors.
- Follow the controls that are detailed in the risk assessment/method statement
Review the risk assessment if the controls are not effective. - Do not use any unapproved chemical products.
A cross-company project group is currently working on the development of a REACh/CLP implementation plan. Staff in each business unit will be briefed with further information over the coming months.
CASE STUDY:
CATHAL SMITH
Cathal graduated from UCD in 2010 with a Degree in Environmental Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from Queens University in 2011. With his Masters completed, Cathal was job searching when he heard about the JobBridge scheme. ESB was the first company that he applied to for an internship as he was attracted to this particular internship by the description of the role - an area that he was very interested in.
At his exit interview Cathal admitted he didn’t know what to expect from the internship but was very happy with the way it turned out. He found the work was extremely interesting and he was gaining great experience in Civil Works. He had studied hydrological material in college but this was the first time he had the opportunity to put what he had learned into practice. “ESB is major company with a good reputation and the opportunity to work for ESB presented an exciting proposition to learn from some of the best minds in the field,” he said.
The experience gained working in ESBI was a great benefit to him at interviews as he was able to discuss in detail what he was working on.
Cathal completed his internship on 1st June and commenced a six-month contract with ESBI on 5th June. He will be working in the Civil, Building and Environmental Group as a Graduate Civil Engineer.
SUPPORTING LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL STAFF IN ESB
“EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE is a key issue for lesbian, gay and bisexual people,” Davin Roche, Director of Workplace Diversity, Gay Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN)
While there has been progress for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Ireland over the last 20 years, a lot remains to be done in organisations to create and promote a positive and inclusive workforce.
Discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation can take many forms. It is ESB’s policy to provide a supportive workplace and guarantee the right of all employees to work in an environment that is free from all types of inappropriate behaviour, including bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.
A number of organisations, for example Accenture, IBM, Microsoft and An Gárda Síochána, have LGB employee networks in place. These networks have been very successful in supporting employees. Given ESB’s commitment to diversity in the workplace, we are interested in establishing an LGB employee network for ESB.
One of the initiatives put in place through the Equality & Diversity Office in 2011 was the appointment of a staff member to the Joint Equality Council (JEC) as a LGB representative. This position is currently available.
The Equality and Diversity intranet site has also been updated to include a section supporting LGB staff with relevant articles, presentations and useful links: http://esbnet/hr/EqualOpportunities/LGB/Default.htm
If you are interested in a role in representing LGB employees in ESB, either through membership of the JEC or in the setting up or membership of an LGB Employee Network, please contact the Equality & Diversity Office:
Email Equality_Diversity@esb.ie
Bernie O’Connor 01 7027239
Joyce Farrell 01 7027534
Please be assured that should you wish to make an enquiry or join the network group, your privacy will be assured.
www.glen.ie
GLEN (Gay + Lesbian Equality Network) is a policy and strategy focused organisation that aims to deliver ambitious and positive change for lesbian, gay and bisexual people (LGB) in Ireland, ensuring full equality, inclusion and protection from all forms of discrimination.
www.belongto.org
BeLong To supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in Ireland. This site also includes supports, information and advice for parents whose sons/daughters have told them they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
www.linkedin.com/groups/Irish-LGBT-Professionals-Network-3922670
This LinkedIn page has been set up to help the LG BT professional community in Ireland to network more easily with each other.
Retirement Planning Seminar
