Almost 2.5k Bars Sign Up To Drinks Ireland|Beer/HSA Safety Programme

According to Drinks Ireland|Beer, new figures show that almost 2,500 bars in Ireland have signed up to a safety programme that aims to reduce injuries and ill health associated with working in bar cellars.

Since 2017, Drinks Ireland|Beer and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have been rolling out an initiative that is designed to address safety issues via an online risk assessment tool. Operators of licensed venues can carry out risk assessments on www.BeSMART.ie, and identify what needs to be done to reduce risks.

Possible hazards include impacts from falling kegs, gas bottles and crates, exposure to gas when changing kegs, manual handling of kegs and crates, and slips, trips and falls.

In November of 2017, 1,604 licensed premises had signed up to the programme. This figure had increased by 35% to 2,464 by November of 2019.

Encouraging Bar Owners “To Keep Safety In Mind”

Head of Drinks Ireland|Beer Jonathan McDade stated, “It’s good to see a steady increase in the safety programme to date, aimed at reducing the risks associated with working in bar cellars. It is the first initiative of its kind in Ireland and is very easy for bar owners to participate in. We’d encourage bar owners to keep safety in mind during the busy festive period, taking a refresh of the programme or signing up if they have not already done so.”

Meanwhile, HSA inspector Kay Baxter commented, “The aim of this programme is to make pubs, restaurants and hotels safer to work in. We’d urge all licensed operators to use this free online risk assessment tool to create a safer working environment.”