News & Info

A new three-year action plan published by the HSA’s Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC) sets out new goals and initiatives aimed at improving safety in the construction sector.

Construction is typically a high-risk industry for accidents and building site accident claims are common. The latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) module on work-related injury and illness shows that the construction sector had the highest rates of work-related injuries leading to four or more days of absence from work.¹ And tragically, five construction workers lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2024. However, this is a 50% reduction on construction-related fatalities in 2023.²

While improvements have been made in reducing fatalities in the industry, the HSA acknowledge the urgent need to reduce the incidence of life-altering injuries from construction accidents. Mark Cullen, Interim HSA Chief Executive Officer, said:

“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.”

The three-year action plan aims to:

• promote best practices for reducing occupational risks,
• standardise safety practices across the sector,
• share insights on technological advancements that can improve safety,
• and provide greater consultation and collaboration between safety representatives and on-site stakeholders.

Solicitor Maria Lakes, who specialises in construction accident claims, welcomes the action plan and expressed hope that it will help reduce the incidence of serious injuries.

“I have dealt with many construction site accident claims over the years, and I have had clients whose lives have been severely impacted by their injuries. Too often, the accidents were preventable; had the proper safety procedures been in place, or if a thorough risk assessment been done, most of these accidents could have been avoided,” explains Maria.

“The more the HSA can advocate for, and help implement, robust safety procedures across the construction industry, the better it will be for all construction workers. Everyone is entitled to a safe workplace and I truly hope this initiative will help reduce the numbers of people who are injured on building sites.”

If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact us for a confidential discussion about your legal rights.

Sources:

¹ Annual_review_of_workplace_injuries_illnesses_and_fatalities_20222023.pdf

² Fatal Injury – Health and Safety Authority