Surveys, monitoring, training and asbestos management for employers across Ireland since 2001.
Request a quoteUnderstand workplace hazards, measure exposure and get practical advice on managing the risks to your people.
Help your team recognise job hazards and put safe working practices into use, with training relevant to their work.
Find out what is in your building and how to manage it, with specialist advice for owners, employers and project teams.
Help employees who may encounter asbestos understand the risks and know when to stop work and seek advice.
Step-by-step procedures for the questions duty holders ask us most.
Start by understanding where asbestos may be present, its condition and how people use the building. Use that information to plan how it will be managed.
Ask a competent surveyor to assess the building and agree the survey scope, including access limitations.
Record identified or presumed materials, their locations, condition and the information needed to find them again.
Consider material condition alongside occupation, maintenance and the likelihood of disturbance.
Assign responsibilities and identify the actions, controls and records needed for the building.
Arrange reinspection at a risk-based interval and review the plan when materials, use or planned work change.
Make relevant asbestos information available before work starts. Seek specialist advice before disturbing suspect materials.
A clear register and management plan help people make informed decisionsTalk to us about this »
Define the project before seeking prices. OHSS provides independent advice, oversight and monitoring; removal is carried out by other contractors.
Establish what survey information is needed for the planned works, including refurbishment or demolition areas.
Set out the materials, work area, access and handover requirements so contractors can price a consistent scope.
Review competence, relevant permissions and experience alongside the proposed method, programme and price.
Check responsibilities, controls, waste arrangements and applicable notification requirements before work begins.
Agree the independent oversight and air monitoring appropriate to the work and surrounding areas.
Arrange the required clearance assessment and documentation, including four-stage clearance where applicable, and update the building records.
Keep independent assessment separate from the removal contractTalk to us about this »
Begin with the moisture problem and how the building is used. An investigation should identify likely causes and the evidence needed to choose practical next steps.
Note visible growth, water damage, odours and when the problem appears. Gather maintenance and occupant observations.
Assess possible leaks, condensation and building defects, using appropriate moisture measurements where useful.
Consider occupancy, heating, ventilation and how moisture moves through the affected space.
Use specialist sampling only where it can resolve a defined uncertainty. Visible mould does not always need testing.
Address the moisture source and obtain suitable advice on cleaning or remediation and any building repairs.
Review completed work, drying and signs of recurrence. Use further measurements or sampling where justified.
Sampling is selected where it will help answer a specific questionTalk to us about this »
Combine occupant feedback with a review of ventilation, building use and possible sources of contamination. Choose measurements that answer the questions raised.
Record where and when issues occur, how rooms are used and any changes to occupancy, equipment or materials.
Look at ventilation arrangements, maintenance, outdoor air sources and possible indoor emissions.
Consider temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide alongside any contaminants identified by the assessment.
Plan locations and measurement periods around occupancy and the conditions being investigated.
Assess results against appropriate indoor-air guidance, with context and limitations clearly explained.
Prioritise practical improvements and agree how their effectiveness will be checked.
The monitoring plan should reflect the building and its occupied hoursTalk to us about this »
Identify who may be exposed, select methods suited to the hazard and use the findings to improve controls. Noise, vibration, chemicals and lead require different measurement approaches.
Group relevant tasks, hazards and working patterns to decide whose exposure needs to be assessed.
Choose suitable personal or task-based measurements for the hazard, work activity and assessment period.
Use suitable instruments and sampling methods, with laboratory analysis where needed and clear sample records.
Compare findings with applicable limits or action values, explaining variability and the limits of the assessment.
Prioritise prevention and controls at source, then assess supporting measures for the work involved.
Check whether controls work and agree further monitoring. Identify any need for occupational-health advice on health surveillance.
Measurement methods and duration depend on the exposure being assessedTalk to us about this »
Careers, public training courses and updates from OHSS.
An example of how a career opportunity at OHSS will appear here. Contact us to discuss careers and future opportunities.
An example of a public-course announcement. Contact us about asbestos awareness training for you or your team.
OHSS was established in 2001 as an Occupational Health and Safety consultancy. Founder Paul Foran has extensive experience in the field, both as a consultant and as a former Inspector with the Health & Safety Authority, where he formulated policy and legislation. Our work brings together occupational hygiene, safety and asbestos expertise for businesses across Ireland.
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When you discover asbestos in a building, it’s understandable to be worried. After all, asbestos exposure is linked to serious illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and…
» Read moreOHSS evaluated the Central Bank of Ireland’s respiratory protective equipment programme. The work covered staff training, face fit testing and an assessment of the protection used by staff during machine maintenance.
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