Ireland: SmartBay Ireland Receives International Accreditation

SmartBay Ireland Ltd. has recently achieved international accreditation under OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 14001:2004 Environment and ISO 9001:2008 Quality standards. 

These awards recognise SmartBay’s commitment to operating an integrated Health, Safety, Environment and Quality management system for its employees, partners, subcontractors and all users of the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site.  The audit was conducted by SGS Ireland Ltd. one of the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification organisations.

John Breslin General Manager, SmartBay Ireland said: “The safety management system we have developed will help us ensure the safety of all persons who work at the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy test site and will ensure that we continually strive to minimise the impacts of our  activities on the environment and improve the quality of our operations”.

Declan Meally Head of Emerging Sectors in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) stated that ‘SEAI are delighted that SmartBay Ireland have secured this award for the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy test site and wish to congratulate the staff who worked so hard to achieve it. Certification under all three standards ensures that the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site will be operated in accordance with international best practice for health, safety, quality and environmental management.’

Peter Heffernan Marine Institute CEO congratulated SmartBay on this achievement commenting that “The international accreditation of the health, safety, environmental and quality management system developed by SmartBay for the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site reinforces the commitment by Ireland to provide a world class test and demonstration facility to the marine technology and renewable energy sectors”

The bespoke integrated management system was developed in-house over a period of 12 months by key SmartBay personnel and Myton Systems Ltd with support from the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Recognised worldwide, certification to OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 demonstrates SmartBay, the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Energy Authorities commitment to deliver the highest standards of service and facilities at the facility. 

The HSEQ Management System incorporates the principles of each standard and its application to the unique requirements associated with the management and operation of the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site.

The system will undergo rigorous annual internal and external audits to continually refine and improve systems of work, measure performance and assess  the impacts of activities at the test site.  SmartBay and the Marine Institute will continue to implement best practices and procedures to achieve overall service excellence for the users of the test site, now and into the future, by adhering to the standards and consistently meeting and exceeding annual targets and indicators.