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In this section you will find some of the main points of the broad legislation covering Ireland today. If you require any more information on this legislation or any other part of health and safety and the Irish law then please contact us for a consultation.

If you require more general information about health and safety and how it covers you then please see our Health and Safety FAQs

What are my responsibilities as an employer under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005?

Section 6:

This section of the act requires every employer to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of his/her employee’s

Employers must:

• Provide safe systems of work
• Provide a safe place of work
• Provide adequate training
• Provide adequate supervision
• Provide protective clothing where required
• Ensure the service of competent persons in relation to health and safety
• Prepare and review on a regular basis the safety statement

What specific regulations might apply to me?

Examples of the specific regulations most common in today’s workplace include the following:

Regulation 8:

Sets out duties of employers in relation to providing suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and instruction to employees on its correct use

Regulation 9:

Sets out duties of employers to provide emergency assistance should this be required within the workplace. This includes first aid for example.

Regulation 10:

Sets out duties of the employer to ensure risk assessment in line with section 12 (2) SHWWA 2005

Regulation 11:

Sets out duties of the employer/employee to receive information in relation to health and safety matters.

Regulation 13:

Makes more specific the duty of the employer to provide training and the duty of the employee to attend any training offered.

Regulation 15:

Sets out the duty of the employer to ensure employees receive health surveillance where this is considered appropriate.

Regulation 28:

Sets out the duties of the employer in relation to manual handling.

If I am prosecuted will it only be Irish legislation that will be considered?

The General Application of the Regulations 1993 gives effect in Ireland to EC Council Directive 89/391, a measure to encourage improvements in health and safety at work. Although the Irish legislation sets out workplace law within this country EC Directives will also be considered when examining claims as they too set out obligations of employers within workplaces in the EU.

What do the EC Directives mean to me?

Some of the following EC Council Directives provide common obligations for employers within the EU:

• EC Council Directive 89/656, use of Personal Protective Equipment within the workplace.
• EC Council Directive 89/665, use of work equipment for employees.
• EC Council Directive 90/270, specifications of employees using Visual Display Units (Computers) as part of their working day.
• EC Council Directive 89/391, a measure to encourage improvements in health and safety at work.
• EC Council Directive 89/393, supplementary measures for workers with a fixed duration employment relationship or temporary employment relationship.

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