01 May HSA launches new Safe Plan of Action
Safety Starts with a Plan: HSA launches new Safe Plan of Action
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), in collaboration with the Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC), has announced the launch of the Safe Plan of Action (SPA), a practical, one page planning tool designed to help any construction crew prepare to work safely on site and prevent incidents before they happen. Built on the principle that “safety starts with a plan”, the SPA supports workers, contractors and supervisors in translating high-level safety documentation into clear, actionable steps on site.
Designed as a practical, A3, one page document, the SPA can be filled out quickly at the start of each day or week. It sits alongside existing Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) and helps turn them into clear actions on the ground, supporting the Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) in carrying out their duty to coordinate health and safety during the construction phase.
The SPA guides users through:
- Task steps and required resources
- Common construction hazards, such as moving plant, work at height and live services
- Permits and authorisations needed before work starts
- Control measures to eliminate or reduce risks
By encouraging crews to plan together, the SPA will improve coordination, reduces downtime and helps prevent rework or delays caused by unexpected hazards. It also offers better compliance support for micro and small contractors, who often seek simple, low paper tools to help meet their legal duties.
The SPA is particularly beneficial for diverse or multilingual s ites, with dedicated space for noting languages used in briefings, supporting interpreters and confirming that all workers have understood the safety information provided.
The new SPA template is available to download below at hsa.ie:
Read the HSA Press Release in full: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/news_events_media/news/press_releases_2026/safety-starts-with-a-plan-hsa-launches-new-safe-plan-of-action/