How to Write a Safety Statement for a Construction Company in Ireland
Every construction company in Ireland must have a Safety Statement. This step-by-step guide explains what the law requires, what to include, and the most...
Every construction company operating in Ireland is legally required to have a Safety Statement. This is not optional, and it is not something you can put off until you are bigger or busier. The obligation applies from the moment you employ your first worker, and it applies equally to sole traders, small subcontractors, and large principal contractors. Yet in my years working with construction companies across Leinster, I have seen Safety Statements that range from genuinely excellent documents to single-page templates downloaded from the internet and signed without being read. The difference matters enormously, both for legal compliance and for the safety of your workers. This guide explains exactly what the law requires, what a good Safety Statement for a construction company should contain, and the most common mistakes to avoid. --- ## What Is a Safety Statement? A Safety Statement is a written document that sets out how you, as an employer, will manage health and safety in your workplace. It is required under Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The Safety Statement must be based on a hazard identification and risk assessment process. It is not simply a policy document stating that you take safety seriously. It must identify the specific hazards in your workplace, assess the risks they create, and set out the control measures you have put in place to manage those risks. For a construction company, the Safety Statement must reflect the nature of construction work, which involves a constantly changing workplace, a wide range of hazardous activities, and workers from multiple employers working alongside each other. --- ## Who Must Have a Safety Statement? All employers in Ireland must have a Safety Statement. This includes: - Construction companies of all sizes - Sole traders who employ workers - Subcontractors who employ workers - Labour-only subcontractors who employ workers Self-employed persons who employ no workers are not legally required to have a Safety Statement, but they must still carry out risk assessments and take appropriate precautions. The HSA has made clear that the Safety Statement requirement is not scaled to the size of the business. A company with two employees has the same obligation as a company with 200. --- ## What Must a Construction Company Safety Statement Include? The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the minimum content requirements. For a construction company, the Safety Statement must include: ### 1. A Statement of Intent This is a brief statement from the employer committing to manage health and safety effectively. It should be signed and dated by the most senior person in the business, typically the managing director or owner. The statement of intent should be specific to your business, not a generic paragraph that could apply to any employer. It should reflect your commitment to the specific risks and challenges of construction work. ### 2. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment This is the foundation of the Safety Statement. You must identify the hazards associated with your construction activities and assess the risks they create for your workers and others who may be affected by your work. For a construction company, the hazards to consider include: - Working at height (roofwork, scaffolding, ladders, MEWPs) - Excavation and groundworks - Manual handling and musculoskeletal risks - Exposure to hazardous substances (silica dust, asbestos, solvents, cement) - Noise and vibration - Electrical hazards (overhead lines, buried cables) - Plant and machinery (excavators, dumpers, cranes) - Slips, trips, and falls - Fire and explosion - Working in confined spaces - Lone working For each hazard, you must assess the likelihood and severity of harm and identify the control measures that will reduce the risk to an acceptable level. ### 3. Protective and Preventive Measures The Safety Statement must set out the specific measures you have put in place to control the risks identified. These should be practical and specific, not vague statements such as "workers will take care." For example, if working at height is identified as a significant risk, the control measures should specify the hierarchy of controls you apply (collective protection before personal protection), the equipment you use, the training requirements for workers, and the inspection and maintenance arrangements for that equipment. ### 4. Emergency Procedures The Safety Statement must include emergency procedures for your construction activities. This covers: - Procedures for evacuating a site in the event of fire or other emergency - First aid arrangements, including the number of trained first aiders and the location of first aid equipment - Procedures for reporting and investigating accidents and dangerous occurrences - Contact details for emergency services ### 5. Roles and Responsibilities The Safety Statement must identify who is responsible for health and safety in your business. This includes: - The employer's overall responsibility - The responsibilities of managers and supervisors - The responsibilities of workers - The name of any person appointed to assist with health and safety matters ### 6. Arrangements for Consultation with Workers The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to consult with workers on health and safety matters. The Safety Statement should describe how this consultation takes place in your business, whether through safety representatives, safety committees, toolbox talks, or other means. ### 7. Arrangements for Training The Safety Statement must set out your arrangements for health and safety training. For construction companies, this includes Safe Pass training, Manual Handling training, and any task-specific training required for the work you carry out. --- ## When Must the Safety Statement Be Reviewed? The Safety Statement must be reviewed whenever: - There has been a significant change in the nature of the work or the workplace - There has been an accident, dangerous occurrence, or near miss that suggests the existing controls are inadequate - New information becomes available about a hazard or risk - The HSA or another enforcement authority identifies a deficiency As a matter of good practice, the Safety Statement should be reviewed at least annually, even if none of the above triggers apply. Construction is a dynamic industry, and the risks you face today may be different from those you faced 12 months ago. --- ## Common Mistakes in Construction Company Safety Statements **Using a generic template without adapting it to your business.** A Safety Statement that lists hazards you do not encounter, or fails to mention hazards that are central to your work, is not legally compliant. The HSA expects the document to reflect your actual activities. **Failing to base the Safety Statement on a proper risk assessment.** The Safety Statement must be based on a hazard identification and risk assessment process. If you cannot point to the risk assessments that underpin your Safety Statement, you have a problem. **Signing the Safety Statement and then ignoring it.** The Safety Statement is a working document. Workers should be aware of its contents, and the arrangements it describes should actually be in place on your sites. **Not reviewing the Safety Statement when circumstances change.** If you take on new types of work, employ new workers, or acquire new plant and equipment, the Safety Statement must be reviewed and updated. **Keeping the Safety Statement in the office and not making it available to workers.** The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires you to bring the Safety Statement to the attention of your employees. Workers have a right to see it. --- ## The Relationship Between the Safety Statement and the Construction Phase Plan It is worth clarifying the relationship between the Safety Statement and the Construction Phase Plan, as these are often confused. The Safety Statement is a company-level document that covers all of your business activities. It is required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and must be in place at all times. The Construction Phase Plan is a project-specific document prepared by the PSCS for a particular construction project. It is required under the Construction Regulations 2013 and covers the safety management arrangements for that specific project. Both documents are required. The Construction Phase Plan does not replace the Safety Statement, and the Safety Statement does not replace the Construction Phase Plan. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **How long does it take to write a Safety Statement for a construction company?** A properly prepared Safety Statement, based on a thorough hazard identification and risk assessment process, typically takes one to two days to prepare for a small to medium-sized construction company. Larger companies with more complex activities will take longer. **Can I use the HSA's BeSMART tool to prepare my Safety Statement?** Yes. The HSA's BeSMART.ie tool is designed to help small businesses prepare Safety Statements and risk assessments. It is a useful starting point, but the output needs to be reviewed and adapted to reflect your specific activities and circumstances. **Does my Safety Statement need to be reviewed by a safety consultant?** There is no legal requirement for a safety consultant to review your Safety Statement, but it is strongly advisable, particularly for construction companies where the risks are significant. A safety consultant can identify gaps, ensure the document is legally compliant, and help you implement the arrangements it describes. **What happens if the HSA finds that my Safety Statement is inadequate?** The inspector may issue an improvement notice requiring you to bring the Safety Statement into compliance within a specified timeframe. In serious cases, a prohibition notice may be issued. **How often must I give my Safety Statement to workers?** You must bring the Safety Statement to the attention of your employees at least once a year, and whenever it is revised. New employees should be given access to it as part of their induction. --- ## How Safety Check Can Help At Safety Check, we prepare Safety Statements for construction companies across Leinster. We base every Safety Statement on a thorough site visit and hazard identification process, so the document reflects your actual activities and risks rather than a generic template. We also provide annual review services to ensure your Safety Statement remains current as your business evolves. If you would like to discuss your Safety Statement requirements, [contact us today](/contact). --- ## Related Articles - [Construction Risk Assessment Ireland: A Practical Guide](/guides/construction-risk-assessment-ireland) - [PSDP and PSCS Explained: Roles and Responsibilities in Ireland](/guides/psdp-pscs-explained-ireland) - [What to Expect During an HSA Site Inspection in Ireland](/guides/hsa-inspection)