Published on: Wednesday, 25 March 2015

A team of 3rd year BEng (Hons) in Structural Engineering students, from CIT's Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering , came 2nd in this year’s Health and Safety Authority’s Safety in Construction competition.

The members of the team were Anna Pietrzak (Team Captain), Alan Hayes and Brian Byrd, with mentoring from their lecturer Mary Moloney. The competition is aimed at undergraduate teams from construction-related programmes in Higher Education. 

Various challenges had to be addressed in the competition entry which considered key aspects of refurbishment works on an historic building including: designing a poster to be used on this and other State-sponsored conservation projects to motivate site personnel to work safely, and  positively influence safety on-site using the principles of behavioural- based safety; addressing risk assessment around manual handling; scaffold design; and occupational health challenges in relation to lime plastering.

Following submission of a competition entry in January 2015, seven short-listed teams were interviewed and battled it out (Wednesday 4 March at the RDS) to win the first prize. This year Carlow IT won 1st prize. 

The interview and judging panel comprised the following members: Mike McDonagh (Senior Construction Policy Inspector, HSA), Mike Keyes (Aegis Safety, Safety in Design Consultant and Third Level Education Group, HSA) and Kevin Cummins (John Sisk and Son Ltd).

L-R Mary Moloney, Lecturer, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, CIT, Michael McDonagh, Senior Inspector Construction, HSA (Chairperson Judging Panel), Mike Keyes, Safety Consultant (Judge), Dr Anne Drummond Chairperson TLEG, CIT Structural Engineering Students: Alan Hayes, Anna Pietrzak (Team Captain), and Brian Byrd; Martin O'Halloran CEO, HSA; Robert Butler, CIF and HSA Board; Joanne Harmon, Education Manager, HSA; and Kevin Cummins, SISK (Judge).

L-R Mary Moloney, Lecturer, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, CIT; Séamus Feeley, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland; Mike Keyes, Safety Consultant (Judge); Dr Anne Drummond Chairperson TLEG; CIT Structural Engineering Students: Alan Hayes, Anna Pietrzak (Team Captain), and Brian Byrd; Martin O'Halloran CEO, HSA; Robert Butler, CIF and HSA Board; Damien Owens, Engineers Ireland; and Norita Robinson, IOSH.

Image Credit  Fennell Photography