By Kieran McGann PRO Imokilly.
Safe Clubs Program for Imokilly launched in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Launch of the Safe Clubs Program for Imokilly Clubs took place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Thursday night February 22nd commencing at 7.30pm with a lovely supply of refreshments.
There was an excellent turn out with 22 East Cork clubs represented. There were a few speakers as Noel O Callaghan, Safety & Facilities Officer, Cork County Board and MC for the evening introduced the evening session.
Speakers.
Noel O ‘Callaghan Safety & Facilities Office, Cork County Board, outlined how the Safe Club Program would be going out nationwide in time. He said it commenced in Monaghan and was very successful and it now ongoing in Fermanagh, Carlow and three big clubs in Cork were already audited. Clonakilty, Bishopstown and Mallow were visited by the National Health and Safety Committee and received very good reports. He outlined it was a tremendous opportunity for Clubs to prepare and/or update their Health and Safety Statements and there was so much learning to be gained. He hoped that East Clubs would give their full cooperation and enhance the stance of the Rebels.
Speakers - Top Table.
Sinead Leavy (Risk and Insurance Manager, GAA, Croke Park. Sinead gave a very information presentation on insurance, claims and employer liability.
Patrick O Brien, Health, and Safety Officer, Croke Park outlined the aims of the Safe Club Program. He gave a very common-sense presentation, and the theme was a proactive approach to health & safety though all areas of the Club, including grounds, buildings, maintenance, machinery, and accommodation of spectators. Patrick has already posted information on the GAA Website at https://learning.gaa.ie/safeclub and is arranging some course for our workers and officers on the portal fit2trade with more information shortly. He specifically spoke about keeping the paperwork right and if an incident occurred that it was report timely to Croke Park. Finda attached below a copy of Patrick O Brien's Presentation on the night: -
Then Ciarán McKenna of Marsh Ireland Insurance spoke of the huge coverage required for the GAA and the number of claims currently high. He mentioned that there is an claim for slip /trip every two weeks on average and a payment of €30 to €40000. He outlined that so many of those were preventable. If we can show the insurance market that we have a process in place and are lowering the claims, we can lower the cost of insurance to clubs. The Safe Clubs Program is a user friendly and proactive approach to promote safety about all clubs. Find attached below a copy of Ciarán McKenna's Presentation on the night: -
Marsh GAA_Safe Club Presentation - FINAL feb 23.pptx
Meeting opened to the Floor.
Finally, the MC for the evening Noel O Callaghan opened the meeting up for questions. Those attendance did ask many pertinent questions and brought some further clarity to insurance matters and the need for greater safety about the club. Noel thanks all who attended and the speakers for their presentations. Now we are back to the Clubs who will be audited in three months’ time approx. and no doubt there will be a good clean up and paperwork in order. Of course, all may be in order all ready. Any queries to Noel O’Callaghan Cork CB or Patrick O Brien H &S Officer Croke Park. Patrick will be in touch by email with all who attended with some dome details and a copy of the presentations on the night.
Neighbouring Club - Erin's Own and Sarsfields Representatives.
Follow up Work required from Clubs.
Following on from the outstanding attendance at the launch of the Safe Club Program for Imokilly in Páirc Uí Chaoimh recently Clubs are now requested to commence the Process.
Each Club appoint a Safe Club Leader.
Each Club should now appoint a Safe Club Leader. Complete a Safety Statement for your Club or update your existing Statement. Please ensure that all risks within the Safety Statement are club specific.
Assistance and Advice to Clubs
Damien Irwin, East Cork Board Development Officer, developmentofficer.imokilly.cork@gaa.ie , is available to assist with queries.
Noel O'Callaghan Safety and Facilities Officer, Cork County Board, safetyandfacilities.cork@gaa.ie , will assist.
Patrick O'Brien patrickobrien@gaa.ie is available for advice also.
Patrick O’Brien, Health & Safety Officer Croke Park and Noel O’Callaghan Safety and Facilities Officer, Cork County Board are arranging a ‘Teams’ support call with those who attended and the Safe Club leader from each Club on Thursday 30th March and the time will be circulated later.
GAA Portal – Suite of Health and Safety Online Courses – Specifically for East Cork Clubs.
Fit2trade will also have a specific GAA Portal with an entire suite of online courses on health and safety specific to Clubs, such as Manual Handling, Emergency First Aid, Fire Safety Awareness to mention some and various other matters. This is an excellent proactive approach and give peace of mind to Clubs and Club Officer in compliance with Health & Safety. There will be more details provided on this later. Please find below some detail on the Fit2trade Portal - Exclusive to East Cork which give an online of courses and is most informative. More on this later: -
Fit2Trade Exclusive to Cork.pptx
East Cork Board and Carrigtwohill Representatives.
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Special Awards Evening when Process complete.
There will be a Special Awards evening when Clubs have completed the process with prizes for the Safest Clubs in East Cork: -
- First Prize = €1500 Voucher.
- Second Prize = €1000 Voucher.
- Third Prize = €500 Voucher.
All participating Clubs will receive a Safe Club Plaque.
