In this section you will find information and guidance developed by the Health & Safety Authority that is industry / sector specific. We have included the most relevant documentation that will help you expand your knowledge in these areas. Further information and guidance is also available to download at our publications section on the Health & Safety Authority webpage.
Approved Form (AF 1) - Particulars to be notified by the Client to the HSA before the design process begins (AF1 Form)
Approved Form (AF 2) - Particulars to be notified by Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage to the Health and Safety Authority before the construction work begins (Report AF2 online)
Lifting Equipment
Form GA1 - Report of Thorough Examination (PDF 489KB)
Form GA2 - Report of Weekly Examination (PDF 378KB)
Work at Height
Form GA3 - Inspection of Work Equipment for Working at Height (PDF 369KB)
Personal Floatation Devices
Approved Form (AF4) - Results of Inspection & Thorough Examination of Personal Flotation Devices (PDF 556KB)
Note: Downloading in Rich Text Format (RTF) means you can edit the document
The Client in Construction
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 defines 'client' as a person for whom a project is carried out. The regulations place certain duties on Clients. These duties are intended to ensure that the project is designed and constructed by competent persons.
Client Duties
Employ competent designers and contractors to carry out the work
Appointment in writing, before design work starts, of a competent and adequately resourced project supervisor for the design process (PSDP), as required.
Appointment in writing, before construction work starts, of a competent and adequately resourced project supervisor for the construction process (PSCS), as required.
Co-operate with the project supervisor and supply necessary information;
Keep and make available the safety file (provided by the PSDP) for the completed structure. The safety file contains information on the completed structure that will be required for future maintenance or renovation .
Provide a copy of the safety and health plan prepared by the PSDP to every person tendering for the project. In the case of projects on a domestic dwelling it is sufficient for the Client to provide the plan to the PSCS when they have been appointed.
Notify the Authority where construction is likely to take more than 500 persons days or 30 working days.
The introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 places responsibilities on homeowners, called Clients in the Regulations, who are having construction work carried out on their home.The aim of this guide is to provide practical information for homeowners as to what they need to know and do.
Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS)
The role of the project supervisor construction stage is to manage and co-ordinate health and safety matters during the construction stage. The project supervisor construction stage is appointed before the construction work begins and remains in that position until all construction work on the project is completed.
Project Supervisor Construction Stage Duties
Co-ordinate the implementation of the construction regulations by contractors;
Organise co-operation between contractors and the provision of information;
Co-ordinate the reporting of accidents to the Authority;
Notify the Authority before construction commences where construction is likely to take more than 500 person days or 30 working days;
Provide information to the site safety representative;
Co-ordinate the checking of safe working procedures;
Co-ordinate measures to restrict entry on to the site;
Co-ordinate the provision and maintenance of welfare facilities;
Co-ordinate arrangements to ensure that craft, general construction workers, and security workers have a Safety Awareness card, e.g. Safe Pass and a Construction Skills card where required;
Co-ordinate the appointment of a site safety representative where there are more than 20 persons on site;
Appoint a safety adviser where there are more than 100 on site;
Provide all necessary safety file information to the PSDP;
Monitor the compliance of contractors and others and take corrective action where necessary;
Notify the Authority and the client of non-compliance with any written directions issued;
The PSCS may issue directions to designers or contractors.
PSCS Guidance
Guide for Contractors and Project Supervisors Carrying Out Construction Work (PDF 2.1MB)
Develop a Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan Using BeSMART.ie
The Project Supervisor Construction Stage must develop a suitable Safety and Health Plan for the project, prior to the commencement of construction work. The plan provides the blueprint for managing and co-ordinating safety and health during construction. The plan needs to explain how the key safety and health issues will be managed. It must be relevant to the particular project and should be built on the Safety and Health Plan prepared on a preliminary basis by the Project Supervisor Design Process.
How to Develop a Plan
You can now develop a Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan using the template which is available for download when you complete a risk assessment for your construction business type using BeSMART.ie
Register for a confidential account on BeSMART.ie or access as a Guest User (your risk assessments will not be saved)
Pick your construction business type
Work through the hazard assessments and when complete you will arrive at the management screen
Note: If you have already completed a risk assessment for a construction business type the option to download a construction stage safety and health plan will appear automatically in your My BeSMART Management Screen, otherwise you will have to work through a risk assessment for a construction business type before you will get the option to download the template.
Management Screen
When you get to the management screen you will be now given the following four options;
1. Download your safety statement including risk assessments and action list or;
2. Manage Your Action List
3. Browse Hazards;
4. Construction Stage Plan - download and develop a Construction Stage Plan Template with your risk assessments and action list.;
Select - Construction Stage Plan
The construction stage safety and health plan, the plan will then be downloaded in RTF (Rich Text Format) and can be saved as a Word or Pages document for future development and editing.
Important
You must then develop your construction stage safety and health plan by adding all relevant information about your project and following the information and guidance contained in the document
Finally keep the construction stage safety and health plan updated and ensure the relevant information is available to anybody associated with the project that may need it
You must keep a master copy of your construction stage safety and health plan that you have developed on a local or secure storage area as BeSMART.ie does not have the capability of editing or saving updated files
Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan - Contents and Introduction
Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan - Contents and Introduction (PDF, 0.3MB)
Accident and Dangerous Occurrence Reporting
All accidents and incidents should be investigated and detailed records kept which could include, photographs, CCTV, witness statements etc. The following forms and link can be used to record and report accidents or incidents that occur in the workplace.
Form IR1 - Notification of Accident
Form IR1 - Accidents can be reported to the Health and Safety Authority in two ways, namely by hard copy, i.e. completing the Incident Report Form (IR1) and posting it to the Workplace Contact Unit, Health and Safety Authority, The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1. Forms can be obtained by contacting the HSA at 1890 289389.
Or you can report accidents online, via the Health and Safety Authority's website, IR1 Online
Form IR3 - Form of Notification of a Dangerous Occurence
Form IR3 - Form of Notification of a Dangerous Occurence (PDF 98KB)
Internal Accident / Incident Investigation Form
Internal Accident/Incident Investigation Form (RTF 320KB)
Guidance on Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences
Guidance on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016 (PDF 1.2MB)
Tool Box Talks for Construction Training Register (PDF 88KB)
Codes of Practice
Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Overhead Electricity Lines
Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Overhead Electricity Lines (PDF 605KB)
Code of Practice for Safety in Roofwork
Code of Practice for Safety in Roofwork (PDF 2.8MB)
Code of Practice for Working in Confined Spaces
Code of Practice for Working in Confined Spaces (PDF 1.6MB)
Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Underground Services
Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger from Underground Services (PDF 1.0MB)
Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds
Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds (PDF 8MB)
Code of Practice for the Design and Installation of Anchors
Code of Practice for the Design and Installation of Anchors (PDF 8.6MB)
Code of Practice - For Contractors with Three or Less Employees
Code of Practice - For Contractors with Three or Less. This code of practice is designed to reduce accidents and fatalities in the construction sector and assist small contractors comply with safety and health legislation. PLEASE NOTE: THIS PUBLICATION COSTS €50, IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY FORMAT AND CAN BE ORDERED BY PHONING 1890 289389.
Construction Safe System of Work Plans
The primary objective of the SSWP is to identify the major hazards associated with your work activities and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place before work commences. The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP) complements the Safety Statement required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Driving for Work Employer's Guidelines CD rom/Videos
Positively supporting employee engagement and wellbeing
Work PositiveCI is a FREE State and stakeholder supported psychosocial risk management process that helps organisations identify ways to improve employee wellbeing.
Use Work PositiveCI to improve employee wellbeing
Work PositiveCI is a completely confidential psychosocial risk management process. It involves a ‘whole workforce’ approach which can be rolled out over a three to six month period and be re-used every few years.
Identify and measure psychosocial risk including critical incident exposure
Work PositiveCI assesses workplace stressors, employee psychological wellbeing and critical incident exposure in the workplace. If not properly managed these stressors can lead to poor mental health and wellbeing, increased sickness absence, presenteesim and lower productivity.
Receive actionable feedback
It provides easy-to-understand online reports, identifies risk areas and provides clear guidance on ways to improve employee wellbeing, enabling focused action to be taken. Work PositiveCIprovides specific support and guidance in addressing critical incident exposure in the workplace.
Improve performance
Work PositiveCI can lead to high impact results, such as reducing sickness absence and turnover, and increasing employee engagement, wellbeing and productivity.
Comply with current legislation
Work PositiveCI helps employers comply with health and safety legislation at a national and European level. Employers are obliged under the Irish Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to ensure safe places of work for all employees, which covers mental as well as physical health and safety.
Free and easy to use
There is no software to download. The surveys take ten to fifteen minutes to complete. You can log in to create surveys, access your response rates and view results 24/7, using any Wi-Fi enabled device. The surveys are completely FREE to use.
Confidential
Work PositiveCI is completely confidential. The data is processed by an independent service provider in compliance with applicable Data Protection legislation.
This introductory course aims to help learners to develop an overview of safety and health in construction. It is relevant for those at third level in construction-related disciplines as well as those undertaking apprenticeships in any construction-related areas.
Course Duration: 120 minutes.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course you should be able to:
• Recognise the importance of managing safety and health in construction and key legislation. • Report workplace accidents. • Understand training, first aid and welfare provisions. • Identify types of hazards and ways to prevent accidents. • Understand how to plan a safe working environment in construction by implementing safety procedures for electrical equipment, overhead electricity lines, demolition and many more important aspects of safety.
Introduction 
Safety Alerts
Publications
Asbestos Information Sheet (PDF 2509KB)
Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) in Workplaces - Practical Guidelines on ACM Management and Abatement (PDF 2432KB)
Carraige of Asbestos-Containing Materials by Road (PDF 953KB)
Chainsaw Safety Training Advice Information Sheet (PDF 560KB) 
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Hazardous Chemicals Information Sheet (PDF, 252KB)
A Guide to Respiratory Protective Equipment (PDF 879KB)
Safe Working with Diesel Engine Exhaust (PDF, 300KB) 
Silica Dust Information Sheet (PDF, 222 KB)
Machine Made Mineral Fibres (MMMF) Information Sheet (PDF, 353KB)
Safety with Spray Polyurethane Foam Information Sheet (PDF, 350KB)
Guidance Note on Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations (PDF 1179KB)
Guidelines on the Safety of Powered Gates (PDF 1.2MB) 
Fire Extinguisher Check Sheet (PDF 0.3MB)
Guidelines on First Aid at Places of Work (PDF, 490KB) 
Guide for Homeowners Getting Construction Work Carried Out (PDF 516KB)
MOBILE ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS (MEWPs) Guidance on Safe Operating Procedures (PDF, 1MB)
An Introduction to the Management of Manual Handling in the Construction Sector (PDF 3360KB)
Reducing the Manual Handling of Roof Panels (PDF 742KB)
Guide for Contractors and Project Supervisors Carrying Out Construction Work (PDF 2.1MB)
Definition of Construction Work (PDF 673KB)
Safety Statements and Risk Assessments (PDF, 4.1MB)
A Guide to Maintaining Best Practices in Safety and Health (PDF, 1.3MB)
Safety Signs at a Place of Work Guide (PDF, 2141KB)
Watch Your Step - Choosing Slip Resistant Footwear (PDF, 0.4MB)
Preventing Slips Trips and Falls at work (PDF, 0.4MB)
Safe Load Securing of Cabins and Site Prefabs (PDF, 0.6MB)
Requirements for Construction Site Welfare Facilities (PDF, 0.5MB)
Working on Roads Guidelines (PDF 1.6MB)
Statutory Forms
Approved Form (AF 1) - Particulars to be notified by the Client to the HSA before the design process begins (AF1 Form)
Approved Form (AF 2) - Particulars to be notified by Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage to the Health and Safety Authority before the construction work begins (Report AF2 online)
Form GA1 - Report of Thorough Examination (PDF 489KB)
Form GA2 - Report of Weekly Examination (PDF 378KB)
Form GA3 - Inspection of Work Equipment for Working at Height (PDF 369KB)
Approved Form (AF4) - Results of Inspection & Thorough Examination of Personal Flotation Devices (PDF 556KB)
Fire Safety Maintenance Check Sheet (PDF 250KB) 
Pressure Vessels Template Register (31KB)
Examination of a Pressure Vessel Information Sheet (PDF 71.4KB)
Templates, Registers and Forms
Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan - Contents and Introduction 
Accident and Dangerous Occurrence Reporting
Training
Codes of Practice
Code of Practice - For Contractors with Three or Less. This code of practice is designed to reduce accidents and fatalities in the construction sector and assist small contractors comply with safety and health legislation. PLEASE NOTE: THIS PUBLICATION COSTS €50, IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY FORMAT AND CAN BE ORDERED BY PHONING 1890 289389.
Construction Safe System of Work Plans
SSWP Road Works Form
SSWP Civil Engineering Form
SSWP Demolition Form
SSWP House Building Form
Work Related Vehicles
eLearning
