The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) issued a Safety Alert in January 2026 to make purchasers and operators of machinery sourced from outside the EU, aware of general safety issues relating to machinery. Please note the following:
- All new machinery products placed on the market, or put into first use within the European Community, must comply with the requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, be accompanied by an EC Declaration of Conformity, bear appropriate CE markings, and include relevant documentation (i.e. instructions for use and maintenance).
- Machinery that fails to meet the requirements of Directive 2006/42/EC may lack sufficient markings and documentation. Such products may not satisfy the essential health and safety requirements or standards.
- Under the General Applications Regulations SI 299 of 2007, as amended, employers have a duty to ensure that any work equipment provided for use by employees at a place of work complies with the provisions of any relevant enactment implementing any relevant Directive of the European Communities relating to work equipment with respect to safety and health (i.e. compliance with the provisions of Machinery Regulations 2008, SI 407/2008, enacting the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC).
- The HSA will continue to carry out inspections on importers, machinery suppliers and operators and take firm action should any non-compliant machinery be made available, or is found to be in use, in the Republic of Ireland.
For full details, visit the HSA webpage:
https://www.hsa.ie/safety_alerts/2026/safety-alert-non-compliant-machinery-products/