Share this article:
Promoting continuous improvement in health and safety performance is paramount across the construction industry, where employers, trade unions, professional bodies, government, and state agencies collaborate.
The Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC) supports this mission by advising the Board of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Its vision reflects the heart of its work: “Learning from industry to educate and improve health, safety, and well-being for everyone in the construction sector.”
The current three-year CSPAC Action Plan (for years 2025–2027) endeavours to foster collaboration between the trade unions, the CIF, the HSA, and other industry representatives, to create a safer working environment, to reduce accidents, and to promote a culture of safety through innovation and standardisation of good workplace practices.
Frank Kelly, of Walls Construction and Chair of the CIF Safety and Health Subcommittee, and Michelle Quinn, of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), jointly chair the CSPAC.
Launching the Action Plan, Frank Kelly said:
“The strength of this plan lies in its collaborative approach. By learning from each other, we can standardise what works, innovate where needed, and ultimately protect the lives and livelihoods of thousands of construction workers across Ireland.
“As the industry is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, it is vital to proactively address the risks and hazards associated with construction activity, with a focus on new entrants, returning workers, and small and self-employed contractors.”
‘Practical, data-driven, and inclusive initiatives’
The three-year action plan has four overarching goals, to drive the vision and mission of CSPAC. They are:
- Advise the Board of the HSA on regulatory and legislative matters that impact occupational safety and health;
- Identify best practice and resources that can be developed and promoted across the sector to reduce the risk of injury to workers from new and traditional safety hazards;
- Identify best practice and resources that can be developed and promoted across the sector to reduce the risk of injury to workers from new and traditional health and psychosocial hazards; and
- Promote and support consultation and health and safety representatives in consultation.
Mark Cullen, Interim HSA Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“While there have been significant improvements in recent years, 48 people lost their lives in work-related incidents in the sector in the five-year period to the end of 2024. So there is still clearly a lot to achieve. This plan represents our collective resolve to continue driving down fatalities and injuries through practical, data-driven, and inclusive initiatives.”
You can learn more about the four goals on the CSPAC webpage here.
Construction Safety Campaign
In addition to the work carried out by CSPAC, it also advocates for the annual Construction Safety Campaign, as facilitated by the CIF.
The CIF Construction Safety Campaign 2025, Back to Basics, will take place over two weeks from October 13–24th 2025 – encompassing European Safety Week.
The CIF is encouraging construction contractors and homebuilders to get involved by holding related events across their site and project teams. Through this, the CIF hopes to increase national alignment, help industry build awareness of these risks, engage the total workforce and get buy-in to a positive safety culture.
Learn more about the Construction Safety Campaign, or get involved, here.