Downloads/Guides

May 2021 – Level Crossing Safety Awareness Campaign

Every year there are numerous collisions and “near miss” incidents, involving pedestrians and/or motorists at unattended level crossings. These are the level crossings where members of the public are responsible under law for both opening and closing the level crossing gate.

Unfortunately, in a lot of cases people do not close the gate after using the level crossing. This can result in subsequent pedestrians or motorists coming upon an open level crossing and proceeding, without caution, into the path of an on-coming train.  The consequences can, and often does, result in serious injury or fatality.

Please see the safety booklets from Irish Rail below.

Download Local User Information for Unattended Level Crossing

Download Professional User Information for Unattended Level Crossing

Download Farming User Information for Unattended Level Crossing

Services & Emergency User Information for Unattended Level Crossing

May 2019 – Code of Practice for Inline Diving and Inshore Diving

The aim of this code of practice is to provide practical guidance on the safe management of diving at work. It provides assistance on the observance of the requirements of the 2018 Diving Regulations 2018.
Download COP for Inline Diving and Inshore Diving

May 2019 – Code of Practice for Offshore Diving

The aim of this code of practice is to provide practical guidance on the safe management of diving at work. It provides assistance on the observance of the requirements of the 2018 Diving Regulations 2018.
Download COP for Offshore Diving

May 2019 – Code of Practice for Avoiding Danger From Overhead Electricity Lines

This Code of Practice (COP) provides practical guidance to:

• Clients
• Designers
• Planners
• Project Supervisors Design Process (PSDP)
• Project Supervisors Construction Stage (PSCS)
• Contractors
• Safety Representatives
• Any personnel involved in carrying out work where they are at risk from overhead electricity lines
• Employers and employees at risk from the hazards of electricity from overhead electricity lines

This COP also gives practical advice to plant and machinery drivers and operators to avoid coming into contact with overhead electricity lines.
This Code of Practice (COP) was first published in 2008. ESB Networks, with the assistance of the Health and Safety Authority, published this edition in 2019. It revokes and replaces the previous Code in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Download COP for Avoiding Danger From Overhead Electricity Lines – Plain English

April 2019 – What to Expect when the Health and Safety Inspector Calls

This leaflet tells you what can happen when one of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspectors visits your workplace to carry out an inspection or an investigation. It also explains what the HSA does with the personal data it are required to collect during its workplace inspections and accident investigations.
Download What to Expect When the Health and Safety Inspector Calls

March 2019 – Job Stress and Working Conditions – Plain English Version

Plain English version of the European Job Stress and Working Conditions report by the ESRI.
Download Job Stress and Working Conditions – Plain English Version

March 2019 – Safe Quarry: A Guide for Quarry Workers

This guidance document has been developed by the tripartite Quarry Safety Partnership and provides essential information for both new and experienced quarry workers on all aspects of quarrying. It also introduces the SLAM technique, which when employed correctly allows on-the-job risk assessments to be made.
Download Safe Quarry: A Guide for Quarry Workers

March 2019 – Managing Ergonomic Risk in the Workplace to Improve Musculoskeletal Health

This guide from the HSA gives direction on the actions that need to be taken in order to manage ergonomic risks at workplace level. It explains the main ergonomic risk factors that may affect a person’s health when carrying out work activities, outlines the risk assessment process involved in managing ergonomic risks, and gives guidance on useful risk assessment tools that can be used to quantify ergonomic risk factors.
Download Managing Ergonomic Risk in the Workplace to Improve Musculoskeletal Health

March 2019 – Review of Construction-Related Fatal Accidents in Ireland 1989-2016

Between 1989 and 2016, a total of 1,616 work-related fatal accidents were reported to the HSA. Over a quarter of all these involved construction businesses or other businesses engaged in construction activity. Since these represent such a high proportion of all fatal accidents, it is important to have a clear understanding of their causes and characteristics.
Download Review of Construction-Related Fatal Accidents in Ireland 1989-2016
Download Review of Construction-Related Fatal Accidents in Ireland 1989-2016 – Plain English Version

March 2019 – Chemical Safety in Hairdressing Information Sheet

This HSA information leaflet has been developed to provide practical advice for employers and employees exposed to chemical products in the hairdressing industry.
Download Chemical Safety in Hairdressing Information Sheet

February 2019 – HSA Strategy Statement 2019-21

This is the fifth statement of strategy prepared by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This strategy will be implemented in an Ireland that has returned to economic success, business growth and full employment.
Download HSA Strategy Statement 2019-21

February 2019 – HSA Programme of Work 2019

This is the first year for implementation of the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) new Strategy for the period 2019-2021. This affords the HSA an opportunity to reset its programmes in order to meet its new strategic priorities and goals.
Download HSA Programme of Work 2019

December 2019 – Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds

The aim of this Code of Practice is to provide practical guidance to scaffold erectors, contractors and users of scaffolding on the requirements and prohibitions set out in the relevant statutory provisions.
Download Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds

December 2018 – Safety in Licensed Premises – Case Studies

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published a series of Safety in Licensed Premises Case Studies. These case studies give SMART steps to take to help reduce risks associated with with working in licensed premises.
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 1: Cellar Safety – C02
Case Study Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of exposure to Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ) from dispense gas.
Download Cellar Safety – C02 Case Study
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 2: Keg Handling
Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of joint or back injury from the manual handling of kegs.
Download Cellar Safety – Keg Handling Case Study
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 3: Fire
Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of fire causing injury or property damage.
Download Safety on Licensed Premises – Fire Case Study
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 4: Waste Management
Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of injury or ill health from handling and storing waste.
Download Safety on Licensed Premises – Waste Management
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 5: Unfamiliar Workplace
Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of injury or ill–health to people working on your premises for the first time.
Download Safety on Licensed Premises – Unfamiliar Workplace
Safety in Licensed Premises No. 6: Slips, Trips and Falls
Taking the SMART steps to reduce the risk of people getting injured through a slip, trip or fall.
Download Safety on Licensed Premises – Slips, Trips and Falls

November 2018 – Use Chemicals Safely on Construction Sites

Chemical products such as sealants, adhesives, glues, epoxy resins, solvent based paints, isocyanate based foams/ paints, mineral oil and cement based products are used every day on construction sites. However, if these chemicals products are not used safely on a construction site, then you could be at risk.
Download Use Chemicals Safely on Construction Sites

November 2018 – Guidance on Safety in Concrete Pumping

This guidance has been prepared by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in consultation with the Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC), an advisory committee to the Board of the HSA.
The aim of this guidance is to improve standards of safety during concrete pumping and reduce the incidence
of collapse of concrete pump rigs and injuries due to incidents involving pressurisation of pipework or other
equipment.
Download Guidance on Safety in Concrete Pumping

September 2018 – Irish Forestry Safety Guides – ISFG

A range of Irish Forestry Safety Guides produced by the Health and Safety Authority in association with Teagasc and the Forestry Industry Safety Accord.
Titles in the IFSG series are as follows:
Using Petrol Driven Chainsaws – ISFG 301

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when using a petrol-driven chainsaw. For guidance on specific operations involving chainsaws, see HSA leaflets 302, 303, 304, 306 & 307.
Download Using Petrol Driven Chainsaws – ISFG 301
Basic Chainsaw Felling and Manual Takedown – ISFG 302

This leaflet covers basic felling and manual takedown in plantations, or of single trees in open spaces where there is a minimum of two tree lengths clear space in all directions, and pulling aids are not required.
Download Felling and Manual Takedown – ISFG 302
Chainsaw Snedding – ISFG 303
This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be used when removing the branches of conifers and small hardwoods. For guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), the machine, preparing to work, maintenance, fuelling and starting procedures see IFSG leaflet 301 Using petrol-driven chainsaws.
Download Chainsaw Snedding – ISFG 303
Chainsaw Cross Cutting and Manual Stacking – ISFG 304
This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be used when cross-cutting and stacking timber. For guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), the machine, preparing to work, maintenance, fuelling and starting procedures see IFSG leaflet 301 Using petrol-driven chainsaws.
Download Cross Cutting and Manual Stacking – ISFG 304
Chainsaw Clearance of Windblow – ISFG 306
This leaflet applies to the manual harvesting of areas where the majority of adjacent trees have been windblown or broken and also to sporadic windblow, within or outside standing crops. Mechanised systems should be considered as a safer alternative.
Download Chainsaw Clearance of Windblow – ISFG 306
Chainsaw Felling of Large Trees – ISFG 307
This leaflet covers the felling and crown breakdown of large trees in plantations or of single large trees.
Download Chainsaw Felling of Large Trees – ISFG 307
Extraction by Forwarder – ISFG 503
This leaflet covers the use of a tractor and trailer unit fitted with a grapple loader or a purpose-built forwarder for extraction of timber in forestry and other tree work.
Download Extraction by Forwarder – ISFG 503
Mechanical Harvesting – ISFG 603
This leaflet covers the use of a purpose-built harvester or an excavator conversion for felling and processing trees in forestry and other tree work.
Download Mechanical Harvesting – ISFG 603
Electricity at Work: Forestry – ISFG 804
This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed by those working on forest operations near Overhead Electricity Lines (OELs) and underground electricity cables, who are not working for the Network Owner/Operator.
Download Electricity at Work: Forestry – ISFG 804
Selecting and Monitoring Contractors- ISFG FC1
This guidance sets out key duties and tasks in regard to the selection and monitoring of the health and safety performance of contractors engaged on the forestry worksite.
Download Selecting and Monitoring Contractors – ISFG FC1

September 2018 – Safe Use of Quad Bikes in Agriculture and Forestry – Information Sheet

The use of quad bikes is becoming more and more common on farms and forests and for many in these sectors it is an essential piece of equipment. However, there have been a number of fatalities involving quads in recent years and the potential for a serious accident when using a quad is high. This information sheet from the Health and Safety Authority provides advice and guidance on the safe use of quad bikes. The guidance is no substitute for formal training and we
recommend that quad bike operators undertake formal training in advance of quad bikeor all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use.
Download Safe Use of Quad Bikes in Agriculture and Forestry – Information Sheet

September 2018 – Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – Information Sheet

In accordance with the REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006), a safety data sheet (SDS) should be supplied
with any hazardous chemical. Safety data sheets (SDSs) provide useful information on chemicals, describing the hazards
the chemical presents, and giving information on handling, storage and emergency measures in case of an accident.
Over the coming years, SDSs may include further information on safe handling, in the form of exposure scenarios.
REACH requires users of hazardous chemicals to follow the advice on risk management measures given in the exposure
scenario, where provided.
Download Safety Data Sheet – Information Sheet

August 2018 – Code of Practice for the Chemical Agents Regulations

This Code of Practice came into operation on 21 August 2018 and from that date it revoked and replaced the 2016 Code of Practice for the Chemical Agent Regulations which was issued in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Download HSA Annual Report 2017

August 2018 – HSA Statistics Report 2017

The HSA’s annual Summary of Workplace Injury, Illness and Fatality Statistics presents the most recently available statistics on occupational injury, illness and workplace fatalities in Ireland.
Download HSA Statistics Report 2017

June 2018 – HSA Annual Report 2017

This is the second annual report under the Health and Safety Authority’s strategy for 2016 to 2018.
Download HSA Annual Report 2017

June 2018 – Quad Bike Safety Update

Vehicles continue to be the biggest killers on Irish farms. In the past 10 years (2008-2017) there were 12 quad bike fatalities out of a total of 64 farm vehicle fatalities. Quad bike fatalities represented 19% of all farm vehicle fatalities during this period. 75% of those that suffered fatal quad bike accidents were aged 60 years or older.
Download Quad Bike Safety Update

May 2018 – Safe Vehicle Tail Lift Operations – Information Sheet

This information sheet provides basic information and highlights legal responsibilities in the use, maintenance and examination of vehicle tail lifts (tail lifts). It is aimed at employers, the
self-employed, employees and anyone who works with tail lifts which are used for everyday operations involving deliveries and collections of goods and materials.
Download Safe Vehicle Tail Lift Operations Information Sheet

May 2018 – Communicating Chemical Hazards at Work – Information Sheet

When a chemical is delivered to a workplace, the hazard information is usually visible on the supply (CLP) or transport (ADR) label or for deliveries in tanks, it is provided via a REACH Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
When a chemical is decanted from its original container within a workplace, and the risk cannot be removed or controlled, then there may be a need for a warning sign or in-house label. However, such warning signs or labels cannot substitute other methods of control, for example, engineering controls.
This Information Sheet from the Health and Safety Authority provides guidance on communicating chemical hazards at work.
Download Communicating Chemical Hazards at Work Information Sheet

April 2018 – Research Programme on Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Work – Multiple Sectors

Reports published as part of the ESRI and Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Research Programme on Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Work.
Analysis of Work-related Injury 2001-2014 across multiple sectors. Click on the links before to access the reports for each sector, all reports available in plain English versions.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing – Plain English
Construction Industry
Construction Industry – Plain English
Health Sector
Health Sector – Plain English
Industry Sector
Industry Sector – Plain English
Transport and Storage Sector
Transport and Storage Sector – Plain English

April 2018 – HSA Programme of Work 2018

This programme of work, the third prepared under the Health and Safety Authority’s Strategy 2016–2018, has been developed to contribute to its long-term vision of healthy, safe and productive lives.
Download HSA Programme of Work 2018

February 2018 – Nail Bars Information Sheet

Using nail products and other products several times every day can pose a risk to your health. This information leaflet has been developed to provide practical advice to those working in the nail industry.
Download Nail Bars Information Sheet

January 2018 – Reducing the Risk of Back Injury on the Farm

Work activities on the farm by their nature involve physical manual work, which is a healthy
thing. However, farmers should be aware that some aspects of this physical work involve a risk of
musculoskeletal injury, particularly back injury.
This guide will:

• present findings on the prevalence of musculoskeletal injury among Irish farmers and on the
  impact of such injuries,
• describe the main risk factors for back injury,
• explain how to manage these risks when planning work activities on the farm, and
• suggest ways of organising work activities to reduce risk.
  Download Reducing the Risk of Back Injuries on the Farm Guidebook

December 2017 – Choosing Slip Resistant Footwear – Information Sheet

In almost 6,000 workplace visits, HSA Inspectors found that 70% needed slip-resistant footwear. This information sheet will help you choose the most suitable slip-resistant footwear.
Download Choosing Slip Resistant Footwear – Information Sheet

December 2017 – Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls at Work – Information Sheet

Every working day in Ireland six people are hurt in work-related Slips, Trips and Falls (STF). STF are the second greatest single cause of workplace injuries. This information sheet will help you understand how to control work-related STF.
Download Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls at Work – Information Sheet

November 2017 – Safe Quarrying Information Sheets

During Quarry Safety Week in November 2017, the Health and Safety Authority published three new information sheets on safe quarrying:

• Fall Protection at the Top of the Quarry Face
• Guarding of Return Idler Rollers on Conveyors at Quarries
• Identifying Significant Hazards in Quarries

Download Fall Protection at the Top of the Quarry Face
Download Guarding of Return Idler Rollers on Conveyors at Quarries
Download Identifying Significant Hazards in Quarries

October 2017 – Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

This guidance document has been prepared to assist those working with Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs). It offers guidance on Static Vertical, Static Boom, Mobile Vertical and Mobile Boom.
Download Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

September 2017 – Guidance for the Management of Household Hazardous Waste and Civil Amenity Sites

This joint guidance developed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) addresses the safe handling and storage of a range of household hazardous waste types at civi amenity sites in order to manage not only the environmental risks but also health and safety risks.
Download Guidance for the Management of Household Hazardous Waste

September 2017 – Work Related Vehicle Safety Programme

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has developed a new three-year plan outlining a course of action, aimed at influencing and improving work related vehicle safety in Ireland.
Download the Work Related Vehicle Safety Programme

September 2017 – Chemical Importers Information Sheet

This information sheet aims to outline the key responsibilities for EU importers of chemical substances and mixtures under the REACH, CLP and Rotterdam Regulations, for which the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are the competent authority in Ireland.
Download the Chemical Importers Information Sheet

July 2017 – HSA Statistics Summary 2016

The tables and graphs contained within the HSA Statistics Summary 2016 outline the most recently available statistics on on occupational injury, illness and workplace fatalities in Ireland.
Download the HSA Statistics Summary 2016

July 2017 – HSA Annual Report 2016

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published its Annual Report for 2016 which outlines its major activities, achievements and outcomes over the course of the year.
Download the HSA Annual Report 2016

July 2017 – Home Heating Oil – Information Sheet

Information for suppliers, distributors and retailers of containers of home heating oil.
Download Home Heating Oil Information Sheet

June 2017 – Crystalline Silica Dust Information Sheet

Crystalline silica is widely found in nature. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust occurs in many industries.
Download Crystalline Silica Dust Information Sheet

May 2017 – Summary of Key Duties Under the Procurement, Design and Site Management Requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations

This leaflet sets out the key duties of clients, designers, project supervisors and contractors under the Design and Management sections of the Construction Regulations. It is not a legal interpretation, the regulations set out the legal requirements.
Download the Summary of Key Duties

May 2017 – Code of Practice for Preventing Injury and Occupational Ill Health in Agriculture

The aim of this Code of Practice is to improve the level of safety and health among all people engaged in the agriculture sector by providing practical guidance.
Download Code of Practice for Agriculture

May 2017 – Farm Safety Code of Practice – Risk Assessment Document

Farm Safety Code of Practices risk assessment document for farms with three or fewer employees.
Download Farm Safety Risk Assessment Document

May 2017 – Risk Taking and Accidents on Irish Farms – full report

This study involves an in-depth analysis of the HSA’s 2013 Risk Taking and Accidents on Irish Farms survey data and goes beyond the original report in calibrating the data to represent all farms and conducting detailed statistical analysis to identify the most important factors related to risk taking and how this is linked to the experience of accidents on farms.
Download Risk Taking and Accidents on Irish Farms – full report

May 2017 – Risk Taking and Accidents on Irish Farms – summary