Increases reported in workplace accidents and HSA inspections

With Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspections on the rise, and increases reported in workplace accidents across the country, it’s essential that Irish businesses are up to date with their Health & Safety responsibilities.  

Read on to find out more about these trends, and the steps you can take to protect your business and your employees.  

Increase in HSA inspections 

In March, the HSA announced that it would carry out 10% more occupational Health & Safety inspections in 2025 than were carried out in the previous year. This means that the Authority is aiming to carry out a total of approximately 11,900 ‘traditional’ Health & Safety inspections throughout 2025.  

 Since then, we at Peninsula have also noticed a spike in the number of our customers who have undergone HSA inspections in recent weeks.  

These trends and announcements highlight the continued importance of staying on top of Health & Safety practices in your business and regularly preparing for your next HSA inspection.  

Recent trends in workplace accidents and fatalities 

The HSA has released multiple safety reminders in recent months after a spike in workplace fatalities, with many of these incidents occurring in outdoor sectors. The Authority has urged farmers and other outdoor workers to take extra precautions, and to prioritise safety at all times.  

Those in industries which require the use of heavy machinery or vehicles should be particularly vigilant when it comes to training and safety procedures. The HSA has announced that of all the 171 fatalities reported in the farming sector between 2015 and 2024, almost half involved tractors, vehicles and heavy machinery.  

Additionally, of the four fatal workplace accidents reported in the month of April, three of those incidents involved the use of quad bikes. 

The Authority has released a safety warning for those in the farming industry, urging workers to be vigilant during the busy silage season. It also launched a two-week quarry safety inspection campaign for businesses operating in quarry developments.  

Preparing for your next HSA inspection 

There are several key steps you can take to prepare your business for its next HSA inspection. From risk assessments to Safety Statements, here are a few key areas to review and assess.  

Risk assessments 

Under Irish Health & Safety legislation, employers are legally obligated to identify hazards in the workplace and to assess any risks that may arise from those hazards. Employers should then implement appropriate control measures to mitigate any risks which have been identified during the process.  

Documentation  

Health & Safety documentation, including your business’ Safety Statement, is one of the key areas assessed by a HSA inspector during their visit. Your inspector will want to see that you have all the required documentation, and that hard copies of your Safety Statement and risk assessments are available for employee consultation. If your company handles chemicals, you will also need to make relevant Safety Data Sheets available for consultation. 

It’s vital that all relevant documentation is reviewed on a regular basis, and that updates are made if and where necessary.  

Records 

It is crucial to ensure that you have maintained detailed records of all relevant Health & Safety procedures. 

Monitoring changes in business practices 

As your business grows, business practices will shift and adapt. It’s crucial to assess the risks that come with any new practice, system, or piece of equipment. 

Review actions from past inspections 

If your business has previously been inspected by the HSA, you should incorporate any feedback from those inspections into your preparations for future visits. An inspector will want to see that you have acted on the feedback and that you have put measures in place to reduce risk.