Legal Requirements

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005) requires:

• Employers manage and conduct their work activities in such a manner as to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees.
• That a risk assessment is carried out by the employer or person in control of the place of work.
• Transport hazards that exist in the workplace must be assessed as part of this risk assessment and appropriate steps taken to eliminate or reduce any risks found.

Note: Vehicles are defined as a Place of Work under the Act. Hence, under Section 8 of the Act, the employer must ensure so far as reasonably practicable that:

• Vehicles are designed, provided and maintained in a condition that is safe and without risk to health
• Safe means of access and egress to and from the vehicle is designed, provided and maintained
• Systems of work are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate, for example safe systems of work must be available for vehicle loading and unloading activities
• Information, instruction, training and supervision is provided for all employees who operate work related vehicles

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 299 of 2007)

Under Part 2 of these Regulations, which is applicable to fixed workplace premises, employers are required to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles can move in a safe manner and that traffic routes are clearly identified and appropriately dimensioned. Traffic rules for mobile work equipment are also required.

The above is not an exhaustive list of legislation that is applicable to work related vehicles. Other relevant legislation, for example carriage of dangerous goods by road, construction and quarries legislation may also be applicable to your work activities.

Full legislation is available on the website of the office of the Attorney General.