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Safe System of Work Plan - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Safe System of Work Plan?

The SSWP identifies the major hazards associated with construction work activities and helps to ensure that appropriate controls are in place before work commences.  It communicates through the use of pictograms so that everyone on site, including persons who possess little or no English can understand what they need to do.  The SSWP series covers the following types of construction:

  • House Building
  • Ground Works
  • Civil Engineering
  • Demolition
  • Commercial Building
  • Roadworks

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Are there any other benefits in using the Safe System of Work Plan?


As well as identifying the major hazards associated with construction work activities and suggesting safety controls it also:

  • links the implementation of the Safety Statement directly to the work activity
  • focuses on safety controls for a particular task before an activity starts
  • increases awareness of a range of options to deal with each risk
  • is user friendly, users just tick the hazards and controls
  • pictograms demonstrate each hazard and control making it easily understood

The SSWP will help users to complete construction work activity in a safe manner.  Completing and using the SSWP will also help contractors, self-employed persons and employees to meet some of the legal obligations place on them by health and safety legislation.

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Do I still need to prepare a Safety Statement if I have a Safe System of Work Plan?

The Safe System of Work Plan complements the Safety Statement required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, although it does not replace the requirements for a Safety Statement.  The SSWP can be used to make sure that the safety statement applies to the individual site or job being done and can be used as a final check to ensure that the identified controls for a specific construction work activity are in place.

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How do I use the Safe System of Work Plan?

The process consists of 3 parts: -

  1. Planning the activity
  2. Identifying the hazards and controls
  3. Sign Off

Planning the activity
The person planning the activity will complete this part.  Normally this would be the supervisor/foreman and/or self-employed person prior to work starting.  Where a site safety officer is employed they should be involved in the process.

Identifying the hazards and controls
This part of the SSWP form deals with hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control.  Normally this would be carried out by the supervisor/foreman and/or self-employed person prior to work starting.  Where a site safety officer is employed they should be involved in the process.

The hazards should first be identified by ticking the square boxes in the “Select Hazard” column;

  • The appropriate controls to eliminate the hazard or reduce the risk should be identified by ticking the square boxes in the “Select Control” column
  • When the Controls are in place tick the round box.  This must be done in conjunction with the workers at the specific work location prior to the work taking place
  • The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Fire Equipment required should be selected by ticking the square boxes in the PPE/Fire sections and when acquired by ticking the round box

Sign off
This part deals with the signing off of the SSWP.  The purpose of signing off is to identify the person who has prepared the SSWP and also to confirm that the completed SSWP has been brought to the attention of all those to whom the SSWP applies.

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Where must the Safe System of Work Plan form be kept? 

The completed SSWP must remain at the specific location of the work with the persons carrying out the work activity.

Should a new Safety System of Work Plan form be filled in for each new activity? A new SSWP must be completed when

  • a new hazard is identified
  • the task changes
  • the environment changes

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Where can I get Safe System of Work Plan forms?

From Wednesday June 3, 2015, the HSA are no longer taking SSWP orders. Order for SSWPs should be directed to the Construction Industry Federation at the contact details below.

Email Address: publications@cif.ie
Phone Number: (01) 406 6000

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Can I still use the Code of Practice for Three of Less Employees?

The Code of Practice for Three or Less Employees was launched in March 2008. If you are an employer and have 3 or less employees you can use the Code in lieu of a Safety Statement.

The Code has been designed for Construction Work and can be used only in conjunction with the following SSWP forms;

  • House Building
  • Ground Works
  • Civil Engineering
  • Demolition
  • Commercial Building

Some points that need to be followed are;

  • The commitment to safety form must be signed by the employer.
  • The SSWP forms must be filled out when;
  1. a new hazard is identified
  2. the task changes
  3. the environment changes

The Code of Practice is available for purchase from the HSA publications at a cost of €50.

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