Module 1 – Refreshing the Manager's Safety Role
This opening module revisits the responsibilities of those managing construction work and considers how effective leadership influences site safety.
Topics include:
• The role of the construction manager
• Management responsibilities for health and safety
• Leadership and safety culture
• Setting standards on site
• Responsibilities of supervisors and workers
• Communication and consultation
• Contractor and subcontractor management
• Leading by example
• Maintaining effective safety standards
Module 2 – Risk Assessment & Risk Control
Construction activities can change rapidly, requiring managers to continually review whether risks remain adequately controlled.
Topics include:
• Understanding hazards and risks
• Identifying construction hazards
• Reviewing risk assessments
• Evaluating existing controls
• Hierarchy of control
• Selecting appropriate control measures
• Residual risk
• Dynamic changes on construction sites
• Communicating risk controls
• Reviewing controls when circumstances change
Practical Exercise
Participants review a construction scenario and identify hazards, assess risks and determine appropriate control measures.
Module 3 – Preparing & Planning Construction Work
Good safety performance begins before work starts.
Topics include:
• Planning construction activities
• Identifying hazards before work begins
• Safe systems of work
• Method statements
• Site rules
• Construction phase planning
• Coordination between contractors
• Competence and supervision
• Communication of safety requirements
• Managing changes to planned work
• Emergency arrangements
Module 4 – Establishing & Managing the Construction Site
Participants review the practical arrangements required to maintain a safe and organised construction site.
Topics include:
• Site access and security
• Site layout
• Traffic management
• Pedestrian and vehicle segregation
• Welfare facilities
• Housekeeping
• Storage arrangements
• Plant and equipment
• Work areas and exclusion zones
• Signage and information
• Site inspections
• Managing changing site conditions
Module 5 – Construction Phase Safety
This module focuses on the practical management of common construction activities and hazards.
Areas covered include:
• Work at height
• Excavation and ground works
• Plant and machinery
• Lifting operations
• Temporary works
• Electrical hazards
• Construction traffic
• Falling objects
• Slips, trips and falls
• Hazardous substances
• Dust and airborne contaminants
• Noise and vibration
• Personal protective equipment
• Contractor activities
The emphasis is on recognising hazards, determining appropriate controls and ensuring controls remain effective throughout the project.
Module 6 – Active Safety Monitoring
Managers need to identify potential problems before they result in an incident.
Topics include:
• Proactive safety management
• Workplace inspections
• Safety observations
• Monitoring standards
• Identifying unsafe conditions
• Identifying unsafe behaviours
• Checking whether procedures are being followed
• Monitoring contractor performance
• Corrective actions
• Follow-up and verification
• Developing a positive safety culture
Module 7 – Incident Management & Reactive Monitoring
When an accident, near miss or other safety event occurs, an effective response can help prevent recurrence.
Topics include:
• Accidents and incidents
• Near misses
• Immediate response
• Reporting requirements
• Gathering information
• Incident investigation
• Identifying underlying causes
• Corrective and preventive actions
• Learning from incidents
• Communicating lessons learned
• Monitoring whether corrective measures are effective
Practical Exercise
Participants work through a construction incident scenario and identify immediate causes, underlying issues and appropriate corrective actions.
Module 8 – Reviewing, Auditing & Improving Safety Performance
A safety management system should be reviewed regularly to determine whether it is achieving its intended purpose.
Topics include:
• Safety performance indicators
• Inspections and audits
• Reviewing safety records
• Identifying trends
• Measuring performance
• Corrective action tracking
• Management review
• Identifying recurring problems
• Continual improvement
• Setting improvement priorities
Participants will consider the difference between simply recording safety activity and using safety information to improve performance.
Module 9 – Construction Health & Safety Legislation
The course provides a practical refresher on the main areas of Irish health and safety legislation relevant to construction management.
Legislation and requirements covered include:
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007–2023, where applicable
• Employer and employee responsibilities
• Risk assessment requirements
• Safety Statements
• Consultation and communication
• Competence and training
• Construction project responsibilities
• Contractor coordination
• Site safety management
The exact legislation discussed can be tailored to the participants' roles and the type of construction activities they manage.
Module 10 – Environmental Management on Construction Sites
Construction activities can have significant environmental impacts. Managers should understand how these impacts can be identified and controlled.
Topics include:
• Environmental responsibilities
• Construction-related pollution
• Waste generation
• Waste segregation
• Storage and disposal
• Spill prevention
• Dust and air pollution
• Noise
• Water pollution
• Fuel and chemical storage
• Resource efficiency
• Environmental incidents
• Preventing unnecessary environmental impact
• Integrating environmental considerations into site management
