Legionella could lurk in the water supplies of school buildings, and some measures to keep people in schools safe from coronavirus may even increase risks from deadly illnesses caused by the bacteria. Legionella, usually Legionella pneumophila, is the bacteria that...
Unfortunate events in Beirut on the 4th of August 2020 shone a light once again on the extreme dangers of Ammonium nitrate storage. This incident is the fourteenth known industrial Ammonium nitrate disaster since the deadly fertiliser factory explosion in Toulouse,...
I was recently surprised to see a Request for Tender (RFT) for a replacement of old school boiler by yet another fossil fuelled boiler. This RFT was on the Irish Office of Government Procurement website last week and was for a primary school in a rural area of Co....
With many offices and workplaces preparing for staff returning to work over the coming, managers will be anxious to manage the risks associated with this. A hazard that may be overlooked by workplaces is that of Legionella. Legionella can cause Legionnaires disease,...
My last blog on increased incidents of asthma associated with gas cookers created a lot of interest. However, the issue of indoor pollutants, especially PM2.5 and PM10, has taken on a wider significance with the current lockdown. Normally, those of us who work away...
Covid 19 and Cleaner Air in Dublin City Centre It is well document that there are widespread improvements in air quality as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting shut down of many elements of society. This has been documented by media organizations...
A recent article linking the use of gas cookers with asthma caught our eye. The study in the US concluded that gas cookers exposed people to high levels of contaminants such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and possibly carbon monoxide. The study also found that...
With many of Ireland’s factories currently closed, now is the perfect time for HSE and facility managers to consider some important changes. This includes considering how to improve health and safety, increase productivity and reduce environmental impacts. In other...
The Coronavirus and Climate Denialism The Coronavirus and the Climate Crisis share many of the same traits. You could view the Coronavirus as an acute version of the Climate Crisis. The same warnings, the same consequences, the same misinformation and know-nothingness...
The reported worldwide reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels due to Covid-19 lockdowns shows what is possible with a concerted effort. Whilst NO2 is not a green house gas and will therefore not reduce global warming, it is a proxy for green house gas emissions. The...