08 Jul Latest News From the HSA

Latest News From the HSA

Fines Imposed on Two Companies Following 2019 Workplace Fatality

A fine of €125,000 on a homebuilding company and €65,000 on a scaffolding company was handed down in Wicklow Circuit Court following a fatal work-related incident which occurred on a construction site in Wicklow in December 2019.

The prosecution arose following an incident in which a construction worker, who was working on a block of apartments, fell through an unprotected gap between a two-board bracket and the structure and sustained very serious injuries which he later died from.

The homebuilding company pleaded guilty to breaching to a section of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in that it failed in its legal duty as an employer to properly manage safety on site. The company allowed individuals who were not their employees to carry out work from scaffolding which lacked edge protection and exposed workers to a risk of falling.

The scaffolding company pleaded guilty to breaching a section of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in that it failed to ensure that the scaffolding erected at Block E was safe and without risk to health. The scaffolding did not provide adequate edge protection and exposed individuals carrying out work from the scaffolding to the risk of falling.

Read the HSA Press Release in full here.

HSA Opens Public Consultation

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is inviting farmers, agricultural organisations, representative bodies, safety professionals and members of the public to provide feedback on two important draft documents aimed at strengthening health and safety standards across the agricultural sector.

The public consultation relates to:

• Farm Safety Code of Practice Risk Assessment Document For Farms with Three or Less Employees
• Code of Practice for Preventing Injury and Occupational Ill Health in Agriculture For Farms with Three or Less Employees

How to Participate:

The draft documents can be accessed at: HSA Public Consultations Draft Documents

Submissions can be made via: HSA Public Consultations Submissions

Consultation closing date: 31st July 2026

Read the HSA Press Release in full here.

Driving for Work Risk Management Campaign

The HSA has launched a nationwide inspection campaign targeting driving for work risk management with a particular focus on employers whose staff drive routinely as part of their work, whether as a primary or secondary role.

The HSA will target employers across sectors including construction, manufacturing, engineering, services, healthcare, local authorities, utilities and transport operations, to assess safety standards and drive improvements in occupational safety and health compliance.

Driving for work is a high-risk activity. People who drive for work are 40% more likely than other drivers to be involved in a collision and it is estimated that driving for work accounts for one in three road collisions every year.

To support compliance with legal obligations under occupational health and safety and road traffic legislation, employers can download the Driving for Work Risk Management Guidance for Employers.

Read the HSA Press Release in full here.