Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007

S.I. No. 299 of 2007

SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (GENERAL APPLICATION) REGULATIONS 2007

REVISED

Updated to 24 May 2023

This Revised Statutory Instrument is an administrative consolidation of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Act 2023 (13/2023), enacted 25 May 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 255 of 2023), made 24 May 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Statutory Instrument.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


S.I. No. 299 of 2007


SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (GENERAL APPLICATION) REGULATIONS 2007

REVISED

Updated to 24 May 2023


Arrangement of Regulations

PART 1

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL

1

Citation and commencement.

2

Interpretation.

3

Revocations and savings.

PART 2

WORKPLACE AND WORK EQUIPMENT

Chapter 1 — Workplace

4

Interpretation for Chapter 1.

5

Stability and solidity.

6

Ventilation of enclosed places of work.

7

Room temperature.

8

Natural and artificial lighting.

9

Floors, walls, ceilings and roofs of rooms.

10

Windows and skylights.

11

Doors and gates.

12

Emergency routes and exits.

13

Fire detection and fire fighting.

14

Movement of pedestrians and vehicles in danger areas.

15

Specific measures for escalators and travelators.

16

Loading bays and ramps.

17

Room dimensions and air space in rooms and freedom of movement at the workstation.

18

General welfare requirements.

19

Rest rooms and rest areas.

20

Sanitary and washing facilities.

21

Changing rooms and lockers.

22

Accommodation areas at a place of work.

23

Outdoor places of work, special provisions.

24

Pregnant, postnatal and breastfeeding employees.

25

Employees with disabilities.

26

Agreements as to a premises used as a place of work.

Chapter 2 — Use of Work Equipment

27

Interpretation for Chapter 2.

28

Duties of employer, use of work equipment.

29

Information and instruction.

30

Inspection of work equipment.

31

Maintenance.

32

Control devices.

33

Guards and protection devices.

34

Connection to energy sources.

35

Contact with wheels or tracks of mobile work equipment.

36

Drive systems of mobile work equipment.

37

Combustion engines of mobile work equipment.

38

Roll-over of mobile work equipment.

39

Fork-lift trucks.

40

Safety of self-propelled work equipment.

41

Traffic rules for mobile work equipment.

42

Work equipment for lifting loads.

43

Cranes.

44

Support of lifting equipment.

45

Work equipment for lifting goods or persons.

46

Hoists and lifts.

47

Winch-operated hoists and lifts.

48

Conditions regarding lifting of persons.

49

Lifting accessories.

50

Work equipment for lifting non-guided loads.

51

Lifting equipment—signalling and operation.

52

Examination and testing of lifting equipment.

53

Reports by competent persons.

54

Keeping of records and registers of lifting equipment.

55

Safe working loads for excavators, telehandlers and backhoe loaders when used for object handling.

56

Specific requirements for scotch and guy derrick cranes.

57

Construction, testing, examination and safe working load of lifting accessories.

58

Delivery of loads with lifting accessories attached.

59

Duty of persons who hire lifting equipment to others.

60

Duty of the master of a ship in respect of examination of lifting equipment.

61

Duty of the owner of a fishing vessel in respect of examination of lifting equipment.

Chapter 3 — Personal Protective Equipment

62

Provision of personal protective equipment.

63

Assessment of personal protective equipment.

64

Conditions of use and compatibility.

65

Personal use.

66

Maintenance and replacement.

67

Information, training and instruction.

Chapter 4 — Manual Handling of Loads

68

Interpretation for Chapter 4.

69

Duties of employer.

Chapter 5 — Display Screen Equipment

70

Interpretation for Chapter 5.

71

Non-application of Chapter 5.

72

Duties of employer.

73

Provision of eye tests and corrective appliances.

PART 3

ELECTRICITY

74

Interpretation for Part 3.

75

Application of Part 3.

76

Suitability of electrical equipment and installations.

77

Adverse or hazardous environments.

78

Identification and marking.

79

Protection against electric shock in normal conditions.

80

Protection against electric shock in fault conditions.

81

Portable equipment.

82

Connections and cables.

83

Overcurrent protection.

84

Auxiliary generator and battery supply.

85

Switching and isolation for work on equipment made dead.

86

Precautions for work on electrical equipment.

87

Working space, access and lighting.

88

Persons to be competent to prevent danger.

89

Testing and inspection.

90

Earth leakage protection for higher voltage.

91

Substation and main switch room.

92

Fencing of outdoor equipment.

93

Overhead lines and underground cables.

PART 4

WORK AT HEIGHT

94

Interpretation for Part 4.

95

Organisation, planning and risk assessment.

96

Checking of places of work at height.

97

Weather conditions.

98

Avoidance of risks from work at height.

99

Protection of places of work at height.

100

Selection of work equipment for work at height.

101

Condition of surfaces for supporting structures.

102

Stability of supporting structure.

103

Guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers, etc.

104

Stability of working platforms.

105

Safety on working platforms.

106

Loading of working platform and supporting structures.

107

Scaffolding, additional requirements.

108

Collective safeguards for arresting falls.

109

Personal fall protection systems.

110

Work positioning systems.

111

Rope access or positioning technique.

112

Fall arrest systems.

113

Work restraint systems.

114

Ladders.

115

Fragile surfaces.

116

Falling objects.

117

Danger areas.

118

Interpretation for Regulation 119

119

Inspection of work equipment.

PART 5

PHYSICAL AGENTS

Chapter 1 — Control of Noise at Work

120

Interpretation.

121

Application.

122

Transitional periods.

123

Exposure limit values and exposure action values.

124

Determination and assessment of risks above a lower exposure action value.

125

Provisions aimed at avoiding or reducing exposure.

126

Application of upper exposure action values.

127

Prevention of exposure above noise level of 85dB(A).

128

Application of exposure limit value.

129

Personal protection.

130

Employee information, training and consultation.

131

Health surveillance, records and effects.

132

Exemptions.

Chapter 2 — Control of Vibration at Work

133

Interpretation.

134

Transitional periods.

135

Exposure limit values and action values.

136

Determination and assessment of risks.

137

Provisions aimed at avoiding or reducing exposure.

138

Application of exposure action values.

139

Application of exposure limit value.

140

Employee information and training.

141

Health surveillance, records and effects.

142

Exemptions.

PART 6

SENSITIVE RISK GROUPS

Chapter 1 — Protection of Children and Young Persons

143

Interpretation for Chapter 1.

144

Risk assessment.

145

Circumstances prohibiting employment of a child or young person.

146

Health surveillance.

Chapter 2 — Protection of Pregnant, Post Natal and Breastfeeding Employees

147

Interpretation for Chapter 2.

148

Application of Chapter 2.

149

Risk assessment.

150

Protective or preventive measures.

151

Night work.

152

Information.

Chapter 3 — Night Work and Shift Work

153

Interpretation for Chapter 3.

154

Application of Chapter 3.

155

Night work risk assessment.

156

Protective or preventive measures with respect to night workers and shift workers.

157

Health assessment and transfer to day work.

PART 7

SAFETY SIGNS AND FIRST-AID

Chapter 1 — Safety Signs at Places of Work

158

Interpretation for Chapter 1.

159

Application of Chapter 1.

160

Provision of safety signs.

161

Information and instruction for employees.

162

Prohibition of unauthorised information on signs.

Chapter 2 — First-aid

163

Interpretation for Chapter 2.

164

Application of Chapter 2.

165

Provisions for first-aid.

166

First-aid rooms.

PART 8

EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES AT PLACES OF WORK

167

Interpretation for Part 8.

168

Application of Part 8.

169

Assessment of explosion risk and explosion protection document.

170

Classification of places where explosive atmospheres may occur.

171

Prevention against explosion.

172

Safety of plant, equipment and protective systems.

173

Training, instructions, permits to work.

174

Protection of employees from explosion.

175

Coordination at workplaces.

PART 9

CONTROL OF ARTIFICIAL OPTICAL RADIATION AT WORK

176

Interpretation for Part 9.

177

Application of Part 9.

178

Exposure Limit Values.

179

Determination of Exposure and Assessment of Risks.

180

Provisions aimed at Avoiding or Reducing Exposure.

181

Employee Information and Training.

182

Health Surveillance.

PART 10

PRESSURE SYSTEMS

183

Interpretation for Part 10.

184

Application of Part 10.

185

Revocations, saver and transitional matters.

186

Design, construction and safe operating limits of a pressure system, or parts thereof.

187

Installation of pressure equipment or a pressure system.

188

Marking.

189

Information and instruction.

190

Maintenance of Pressure Systems.

191

Examination of pressure equipment or a pressure system.

192

Report by a competent person.

193

Keeping of records and registers of pressure vessels.

194

Duty of persons who hire pressure equipment to others.

PART 11

WOODWORKING MACHINES

195

Interpretation for Part 11.

196

Application of Part 11.

197

Space around woodworking machines.

198

Training, instruction and information.

199

Guarding and other protection measures for woodworking machines.

200

Maintenance of woodworking machines.

201

Precautions to reduce risk of contact during rundown of wookworking machines.

202

Discharge of dust emitted by woodworking machines.

203

Circular sawing machines.

204

Multiple rip sawing machines and straight line edging machines.

205

Band sawing machines.

206

Planing machines.

207

Vertical spindle moulding machines.

PART 12

ABRASIVE WHEELS

208

Interpretation for Part 12.

209

Application of Part 12.

210

Use of abrasive wheels.

211

Speed of revolution.

212

Mounting of abrasive wheels.

213

Authorisation and training.

214

Guarding and rests for workpieces and flanges.

PART 13

ABRASIVE BLASTING OF SURFACES

215

Interpretation for Part 13.

216

Application of Part 13.

217

Provision of blasting apparatus, enclosures and ventilating plant.

218

Prohibition on silica.

219

Protection of employees and other persons.

220

Persons under 18 years of age.

221

Personal protective equipment.

222

Blasting enclosures for cleaning of castings.

223

Cleaning blasting enclosures, blasting apparatus and ventilating plant.

PART 14

REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES

224

Interpretation for Part 14.

225

Reporting of accidents and dangerous occurrences.

226

Keeping of records.

223

Application of Part 14.

228

Defence in proceedings.

229

Examinations and tests.

SCHEDULE 1

REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK EQUIPMENT

Part A — Exemption from certain provisions of Regulation 46

Part B — Period of thorough examination of lifting equipment, lifting accessory equipment or other miscellaneous equipment

Part C — Circumstances requiring testing of lifting equipment as part of a thorough examination

Part D — Equipment that has a lifting function, is subject to Regulation 30 and is not subject to Regulation 52

Part E — Information to be contained in report of thorough examination

SCHEDULE 2

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Part A —RISKS IN RELATION TO BODY PARTS TO BE PROTECTED BY PPE

Part B — NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WITH REGARD TO THE RISKS THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST

Part C — NON - EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF SECTORS OR ACTIVITIES WHICH MAY REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

SCHEDULE 3

RISK FACTORS FOR MANUAL HANDLING OF LOADS

SCHEDULE 4

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT

SCHEDULE 5

PARTICULARS TO BE INCLUDED IN A REPORT OF INSPECTION

SCHEDULE 6

HAND-ARM VIBRATION AND WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION

Part A — Hand-arm vibration

Part B — Whole-body vibration

SCHEDULE 7

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

Part A — Guide list of agents, processes and work

Part B — Processes and work

SCHEDULE 8

LISTS OF AGENTS, PROCESSES AND WORKING CONDITIONS RELATING TO PREGNANT, POST NATAL AND BREASTFEEDING EMPLOYEES

Part A — Pregnant, post natal and breastfeeding employees

Part B — Pregnant employees

Part C — Employees who are breastfeeding

SCHEDULE 9

SAFETY AND HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK

Part A — General requirements

Part B — Signboards

Part C — Signs on containers and pipes

Part D — Identification and location of fire-fighting equipment used exclusively for fire-fighting purposes

Part E — Signs used for obstacles and dangerous locations and for marking traffic routes

Part F — Illuminated signs

Part G — Acoustic signs

Part H — Verbal communication

Part I — Hand signals

SCHEDULE 10

EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES

Part A — Classification of places where explosive atmospheres may occur

Part B — Warning sign for places where explosive atmospheres may occur

SCHEDULE 11

ARTIFICIAL OPTICAL RADIATION

Part 1 — Non-Coherent Optical Radiation

Part 2 —Laser Optical Radiation

Part 3 —Assessment, Measurement and Calculation of Exposure

SCHEDULE 12

PRESSURE SYSTEMS

Part A—Pressure systems excepted from Part 10

Part B—Period of examination of pressure vessels

Part C —Marking of pressure vessels

Part D—Information to be contained in report of examination

SCHEDULE 13

WOODWORKING MACHINES

SCHEDULE 14

TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION

SCHEDULE 15

DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES


S.I. No. 299 of 2007


SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (GENERAL APPLICATION) REGULATIONS 2007

REVISED

Updated to 24 May 2023


I, Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of powers conferred on me by section 58 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005) and the Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 316 of 2005), after consultation with the Health and Safety Authority, hereby make the following regulations—