Method Statements

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 8, General Duties of Employer state that the employer has a duty to provide systems of work that are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate so as to be, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health. This document will assist the employer in fulfilling the above stated duty.

The method statement document will consist of fundamental components i.e. specify work methodologies, outlining the processes, sequences / scope of work, risk assessments, training / plant and equipment requirements, responsibilities and contact details

Construction Stage H & S Plans

One of the statutory requirements of the role of PSCS (Project Supervisor Construction Stage) under the Construction Regulations 2013 is to prepare a documented Construction Stage H&S Plan. This is to identify the major hazards associated with your work activities and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place before project commencement.

This document will be prepared based on information identified in the Preliminary H&S Plan developed by the PSDP (Project Supervisor Design Process) and also by a site meeting with the project management team. This will be a live document for the duration of the project fulfilling Section 16 of the Construction Regulations 2013.

Traffic Management Plans

A Traffic Management plan must be prepared by law under Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual 2019 and the SHWW Construction Regulations 2013 for all works on a road, footpath or cycle track.

A Traffic Management Plan is required to ensure systems are put in place to complete work safely and ensure that operatives, pedestrians and traffic are segregated safely and effectively.

It puts the following onus amongst others on contractors to ensure:

• Adequate guarding and lighting is provided, traffic signs are placed & maintained, & where necessary operated, as reasonably required for the safe guidance or direction of persons, having regard, in particular, to the needs of people with disabilities;
• There is on site, at all times when the works are in progress, at least one person with a valid Signing, Lighting and Guarding CSCS card.

We also offer Signing, Lighting and Guarding and Health and Safety at Roadworks training courses.

Safe T Cert

With prequalification and tendering more competitive than ever Clients are introducing more stringent criteria in terms of an applicant’s health and safety performance. One of the criteria currently sought, particularly in the public sector is a management system accredited by an external body. One such standard to which you can have your safety management system accredited to is the Safe T Cert standard.

Safety Solutions can assist you in the design and implementation of a safety management system which can be accredited to the Safe T Cert standard and will ensure you are legislatively compliant and give you a competitive edge whilst prequalifying and tendering for work.

PSDP

H.S.A. research has shown that on 45% of sites where a fatality has occurred, the clients had failed in their duties to appoint a Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) or a Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) for the Project. 25% of construction accidents were related to omissions or failures to address Health & Safety issues, prior to the start of the Construction Stage.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare (Construction) Regulations 2013 duties and responsibilities have been placed on PSDP in order to improve the health and safety in the construction industry by engaging all the participants in a project from conception to completion.

We can provide the independent safety expertise and competence to assist designers, architects, project managers, property developers etc, in fulfilling the PSDP and PSDP Co-ordinator roles. Through our expertise we can ensure that:

• Designers comply with their duties – particularly in respect to the avoidance and reduction of risk while adhering to the General Principles of Prevention
• Clients are fulfilling their duty by successfully determining the competence of Designers and the PSCS while sufficiently allocating resources
• The Preliminary Health and Safety Plan is prepared in a timely manner so that it can be used by the PSCS in preparation of their Construction Stage Health & Safety Plan
• The project is notified to the HSA
• The Safety File is prepared and promptly delivered to the Client at the end of the project

To date we have acted as PSDP on various projects throughout the country, these projects have varied in value from €10k to €28m. Some of our clients to date include the Department of Education & Skills, Health Service Executive, Huawei, Limerick City and County Council, Slieve Russell Hotel, Carroll Estates, Hollybrook Homes, Jackie Greene Construction, Birchwell Developments. 

We can provide the Safety File in hard or soft copy, however we have found that many of our Clients benefit greatly from having the file delivered in electronic format. We have developed tried and tested formats for a wide variety of project types, which can be quickly tailored to an individual Client’s needs and project requirements. 

For free initial consultation on how to comply with the H.S.A. Guidelines to identify your duties under SHWW Construction Regs 2013 in relation to PSDP / PSDP Co-ordinator duties please contact: 01 835 4084

PSCS

The role of the Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) is to manage and co-ordinate health and safety matters during the construction stage.  The PSCS is appointed before the construction work begins and remains in that position until all construction work on the project is completed.

Safety Solutions undertake the full role of PSCS onsite or can assist a PSCS in their role as part of a H&S Coordinator position. We can provide full site safety management solutions, including:

• Provision of site safety advisors,
• Training,
• Auditing,
• HSA Notification,
• Development of Construction Stage H&S Plan,
• Contractor Management.

We can also provide assistance for contractors in meeting their duties under the Regulations including site auditing, site specific safety statements, risk assessments and method statements.

Compliance with the duties of the PSCS need not be expensive or time consuming; however an understanding of the duties is imperative to the Project Supervisor Construction Stage in order for them to fulfil their legal duties and responsibilities.

For free initial consultation on how to comply with the H.S.A Guidelines to identify your duties under SHWW construction regs 2013 and your liabilities in the event of an incident or accident contact Safety Solutions on 01 8354084

A Safety Statement is the most basic legal requirement of all employers. The company Safety Statement is a written document that describes how Health and Safety within your company is managed.

To keep in line with current legislative requirements, namely Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, it is the legal duty of every employer to have a Safety Statement.  

Our approach to compiling a Safety Statement is professional, comprehensive and company specific. In order to gain the required insight into your company and complete specific risk assessments, we need to visit your place of work and meet the people involved. This approach ensures that we can advise you where there are legal deficiencies within the workplace and systems. This results in specific recommendations in order to ensure that your company remains compliant with the ever-changing legislation and codes of practice.