Construction site PPE in Ireland
Construction site PPE in Ireland
Head protection, choosing PPE and Safe Pass on Irish construction sites, summarised from the Construction Regulations 2013 and HSA guidance.
- Construction Regulations 2013
- HSA guidance
- Safe Pass
Standards on this page
Symbols follow the official pictograms.
Key takeaways
- Contractors must provide suitable head protection to people doing construction work under their control [1].
- PPE must be chosen for the risks, CE marked, suitable for the wearer and well maintained [2].
- No charge may be made to workers for PPE used at work [2].
- Safe Pass is a one-day awareness programme, renewed every 4 years [3].
Head protection: Regulation 35
Regulation 35 also requires measures against falling materials, with collective protection wherever technically feasible [1].
- Provide itA suitable safety helmet or other head protection for every person under the contractor's direct control doing construction work, unless the only foreseeable head risk is from falling [1].
- Mark itEach helmet carries a distinguishing mark linking it to the person it was issued to [1].
- Clean before reissueA helmet is not issued to anyone else until it has been cleaned and disinfected [1].
Choosing and looking after site PPE
- Assess the hazards on site and provide the right PPE where risks cannot be removed or controlled in other ways [2].
- Choose CE marked PPE that suits the wearer, and involve the people who will wear it [2].
- Where several items are worn together, they must fit together properly [2].
- Maintain PPE, provide storage, and review the assessment from time to time, replacing PPE when needed [2].
- Workers must use PPE correctly, report defects straight away, and mention any medical condition it could affect [2].
Storage and drying on site
Somewhere to keep it
Contractors must provide suitable accommodation for protective clothing kept on or near the site when not in use, with practical ways to dry it if it gets wet [2].
Warming and drying
Where more than 5 people work on a site, there must be suitable means to warm up and dry wet clothing. With 5 or fewer, such arrangements as are practicable [2].
Safe Pass
Safe Pass is a one-day safety awareness programme for construction workers, run by SOLAS [3].
| Role on site | Safe Pass needed? |
|---|---|
| Craft workers and apprentices | Yes |
| General construction workers and working chargehands | Yes |
| On-site security workers | Yes |
| Contractors' drivers and on-site delivery drivers | Yes |
| Students on placement | Yes |
| Site office and canteen staff | No |
| Architects, surveyors and engineers | No |
| Supervised visitors | No |
What site PPE usually covers
Your risk assessment decides the actual list. These are common categories, with links to the matching ranges.
Eyes and ears
Eye protection to EN ISO 16321 and hearing protection where noise requires it.
This guide summarises official guidance in plain English. It is not legal advice. Always follow your own risk assessment and check the current version of each source.
Frequently asked questions
Must contractors provide hard hats in Ireland?
Yes. Every contractor must make sure each person under their direct control doing construction work has a suitable safety helmet or other head protection, unless there is no foreseeable risk of head injury other than by falling [1].
Can a site helmet be passed to someone else?
Only after it has been cleaned and disinfected. Each helmet must also carry a mark identifying who it was issued to [1].
Who pays for PPE on site?
No charge may be made to a construction worker for PPE used at work. Contractors and sole traders provide their own [2].
How often does Safe Pass need renewing?
The HSA says Safe Pass awareness training should be renewed every 4 years [3].
Does Safe Pass replace site training?
No. It is a general awareness programme and does not remove the employer's duty to give information, instruction and training [3].
More help choosing
Download a one-page guide
Free printable summaries for the noticeboard or the van.
More Ireland guides
Kitting out a site crew?
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Sources
Numbers in square brackets on this page refer to these sources. Standards and site rules change, so always check the current version and your own risk assessment.
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 291 of 2013), Regulation 35 – https://www.hsa.ie/media/1mzdgccl/si_291_2013.pdf
- Health and Safety Authority / Construction Safety Partnership, Construction site welfare facilities and PPE – https://www.hsa.ie/eng/publications_and_forms/publications/construction/welfare_facilities_csp1.pdf
- Health and Safety Authority, Safe Pass frequently asked questions – https://hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/construction/construction_faqs/safe_pass/