A new amendment to the Construction Regulations, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 129 of 2019), was signed into effect by Minister Breen on 2nd April 2019 and is immediately effective.
The purpose of these Regulations is to amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 291 of 2013) to facilitate the recognition by SOLAS of equivalent registration cards to Safe Pass and construction skills certification schemes from states other than Member States as compliant with the provisions of these Regulations.
The Regulations also change any references to FÁS to SOLAS and similarly change references to FETAC to QQI following the establishment of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland and make specific provision in respect of the period of validity of a Safe Pass card for the purpose of these Regulations.
It has been demonstrated over and over again that human factors play a part in accidents at work. After an incident has occurred it is, with hindsight, easy to identify many factors that contributed to the situation. Investigation becomes more difficult when we want to understand why people acted in a certain way or made certain decisions. Too often the individual who was most directly involved is blamed. By applying a human factor approach we reveal many more underlying factors which influenced people’s behaviours. These can include poor design, poor maintenance, attitudes to health and safety in the organisation, lack of clear visible leadership, inadequate training or supervision, poor work planning and organisation or individual attitude and skill.
A copy of the Construction Regulations, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 129 of 2019) can be downloaded from the HSA website;
https://www.hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/construction/key_construction_topics/construction_regulations_amendment_2019/safety_health_and_welfare_at_work_construction_amendment_regulation_2019.pdf
For more information please go to https://compliplus.com/human-factors-can-impact-on-health-safety/ or please contact us on www.compliplus.com or info@compliplus.com
