Kerry and Louth winners in inaugural ESB Networks National Safety Challenge

ESB NETWORKS PRESS RELEASE

Kerry and Louth winners in inaugural ESB Networks National Safety Challenge with innovations on farm and construction safety

• Jack Nagle of Killorglin Community College wins second level agricultural category, while Paul Donegan of IT Tralee scoops third level agricultural category
• Ó Fiaich College Dundalk student Joshua Vallely wins in construction category, with Dublin Institute of Technology students, Elliot Halpenny, Donal Healy, Daniel English and Cáit Boyce Willis winning third level construction category

11^th  October 2018

Second and third level students from Kerry, Louth and Dublin emerged victorious at the inaugural ESB Networks National Safety Challenge.

Jack Nagle of Killorglin Community College, Kerry with his invention the Tractor Safe Lock was awarded National Winner at second level while IT Tralee student and Causeway native Paul Donegan was the National Winner at Third Level category with PTO-SENSE. The PTO-SENSE is a two detection system for use when operating PTO-operated machinery.

In the Construction category, Joshua Vallely of Ó Fiaich College Dundalk was awarded National Winner at second level for his innovation, Safety Information Management. His project, an app for Safety Information Management, would provide construction workers with the safety information specific to the devise that they would use.

Dublin Institute of Technology students Elliot Halpenny, Donal Healy, Daniel English, and Cáit Boyce Willis were awarded National Winners at third level for their product Reach LTD’s R-TEKT 110. Their project, a 110v smart plug, can help lower injuries and fatalities by only allowing workers with access to the piece of equipment the ability to power and use that equipment.

Commenting on the announcement of the ESB Networks National Safety Challenge winners, Paul Mulvaney, Executive Director, Networks Customer Delivery, ESB Networks, says: “Established this year, the ESB Networks National Safety Challenge invites students to think critically and analytically, to push the boundaries for a safer working environment for the future of the agricultural and construction sectors. Each of the finalists should be really proud of the commitment to farming and construction safety. I was hugely impressed by their innovative approaches to the competition and the wider practical applications, both on the farm and on construction sites.”

Each of the national winners were presented with prizes to the value of €1,000.

ESB Networks are proud to announce the launch of the second year of the National Safety Challenge. We are again encouraging second students studying agriculture and construction/engineering to develop their own innovative safety idea for farming or construction activity and to demonstrate how they would implement this.

ESB Networks is committed to educating and raising awareness among the public on safety. In particular, ESB Networks works to promote behaviour that ensure a safe electricity network, communicating the dangers of coming into close contact with the electricity network and equipment.

ESB Networks believes that engaging these students in our safety message will reduce their risk of being in an accident involving the electricity network in their construction activities and future careers.

-ENDS-

Media queries to:

Paul Hand, ESB Press Office, paul.hand@esb.ie / 085 7256798

Notes to editors:

ESB Networks National Safety Challenge Winners:

ESB Networks National Safety Challenge who can enter?

The National Safety Challenge is open to all students at second level, but is being targeted at students in the following categories:

1. Construction students at second level
2. Agriculture students at second level

The Challenge:

Have you got an idea on how to make the construction industry safer?

or

Have you got an idea on how to make the agricultural industry safer?

Entries and ideas will be accepted in any format: written (up to 300 words), visual (e.g. photography, poster, design, sketch) or digital (e.g. audio, video) and students/groups are invited to submit any concepts, initiatives, plans or ideas they feel will push the boundaries of innovation and pave the way for a safer working environment across the industry. Students should consider their target audience and the feasibility of their entry.

Entry Details:

• Entries can be sent by post or email to:

  Postal Address: ESB Networks Safety, C/O Real Nation, 24-25 Arran Quay, Dublin 7, D07 W620

  Email: ESBNetworksSafety@realnation.ie

• All entries must be received by Friday, 16th of November, 2018

Prizes:

• 2 National Finalists in two categorieswill receive a €200 in voucher each
• 1 overall National Winner in each category will receive a €1,000 in vouchers (an additional €800 in vouchers plus the €200 voucher, bringing the total prize fund to a total of €1,000 in vouchers)
• The teacher of the National Winner in both 2nd level categories will receive a prize of a €200 voucher.
• Winners will be featured in Irish Building Magazine and the Irish Famers Journal, subject to editorial limitations

Teaching Resources Available

To help incorporate safety into their lessons, ESB Networks have produced resources for teachers which correlate with and support the current Agricultural Studies and Construction Studies curriculum:

These resources are available at: www.esbnetworks.ie/education

Contact information: 

Phone: 01 522 4881

Email: esbnetworkssafety@realnation.ie

Web: www.esbnetworks.ie/education