Safety, Health and Wellbeing Calendar 2026
Quarter 1 (Jan-Mar) – Site Safety & Leadership

January 2026

Refocus on Site Safety

2025 fatalities

Despite our ongoing focus on site safety, we have regrettably recorded 10 construction‑related fatalities in 2025 – a 100% increase versus 2024. This stark rise highlights the urgent need to recommit to addressing site hazards, with particular attention to critical risks such as working at height, interactions with vehicles, mobile plant and machinery, and tasks involving hazardous energy.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSA, “The fact that so many fatalities continue to involve machinery or vehicles, and falls from height, shows that well-known incident triggers are not being adequately controlled. These are hazards that can be managed through proper risk assessment, forward planning and ensuring that all employees are fully aware of the need to prioritise safe working behaviour”.

Review site safety

As outlined in January’s Toolbox Talk titled ‘Refocus on Site Safety’, it is an ideal time to reflect on our recent activities and take meaningful lessons from our successes, shortcomings, incidents, and near misses.

Use this opportunity to review your Safety Statements and Risk Assessments to confirm that control measures remain suitable, effective, and fully implemented. Re‑engage with your colleagues, strengthen safety conversations, and, above all, continue to look out for one another.

Ireland Lights up

From 7^th January, Ireland Lights Up. This annual campaign encourages GAA clubs nationwide to light up and bring communities together to get active, to walk and talk during the dark winter evenings.

Blue Monday

Monday, 19^th January marks Blue Monday, a time when many people may experience increased financial, emotional, or physical strain.

As highlighted by the Samaritans, this is an important moment to reach out, check in, and support one another. A simple conversation or act of kindness can make a meaningful difference.

February 2026

Critical Risk: Work at Height

General Principles of Prevention

Mindful of the ongoing risks associated with work at height, we are again placing emphasis on the correct selection and safe use of ladders (where appropriate), scaffolding, working platforms, and other access equipment.

The HSA’s Work at Height Campaign 2024 highlighted several shortcomings, including scaffolding that lacked the required weekly GA3 inspection records and insufficient training among scaffold erectors. To ensure safe work at height, it is essential to carry out thorough risk assessments and apply the General Principles of Prevention – seeking to avoid risks in the first instance, followed by then to prevent them, and finally to reduce them where elimination is not possible.

Work must be properly planned and organised, with suitable work equipment selected for each task. Priority should always be given to collective protective measures, such as guard rails and properly constructed working platforms, before relying on systems that merely limit fall distance (e.g., nets or airbags) or those that arrest a fall, such as personal protective equipment.

World Cancer Day

4^th February is World Cancer Day and this year’s theme, “United by Unique”, places people at the heart of cancer care while highlighting the many ways each of us can contribute to reducing the global impact of the disease.

Whether at work or at home, it is vital that we prioritise occupational health, remain aware of potential exposures, and take the necessary steps to protect our long‑term wellbeing.

March 2026

Critical Risk: Hazardous Energy

Critical risk in construction

Hazardous energy refers to any type of energy that can cause harm if released or left uncontrolled. Examples include live electrical systems, natural gas, and pressurised systems containing air, water, steam, or other substances.

Due to its potential to cause serious injury or fatality, hazardous energy is considered a critical risk in construction. Effective management involves conducting a thorough risk assessment, identifying all possible energy sources, and the application of robust control measures such as isolation, lockout/tagout, verification, and monitoring – to prevent unintended release or impacts.

Upcoming important dates

In March, we mark several important dates, including:

• 8^th March – International Women’s Day
• 11^th March – National No Smoking Day, highlighting that smoking poses serious health risks; the HSE reports that 1 in 2 smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.
• 15^th March – Mother’s Day
• 20^th March – Daffodil Day 2026. The Irish Cancer Society encourages employers to host a coffee morning to raise funds to support essential cancer services.