14 Apr New Safety Regulations and COP
New Regulations to strengthen protection for workers exposed to hazardous chemicals
The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with responsibility for Small Business, Retail and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, recently signed two new sets of Regulations into law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
Implementing EU Directive 2024/869, the new regulations aim to improve worker protection from the harmful effects of lead and diisocyanates. Both substances can pose serious health risks, including impacts on fertility, sexual function, the nervous system and other long term health problems.
For the first time, the Directive sets EU wide occupational exposure limits for diisocyanates, chemicals commonly linked to asthma and skin conditions. An estimated 4.2 million workers across the EU are exposed to these substances.
Following on from this, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published a new Code of Practice on the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 to 2026 and the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Regulations 2024 and 2026.
The new Code of Practice came into force on Thursday, 9 April and was published on Friday, 10 April. This Code replaces the 2024 Code of Practice for the Chemical Agents Regulations and the Carcinogens Regulations issued under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Download the HSA Code of Practice HERE.
Read the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Press Release in full HERE.