Small sites, big risks: what the HSA's latest construction review means for your next job

When people picture a dangerous building site, they usually picture a big one: tower cranes, hundreds of workers, deep excavations. The latest figures from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) tell a very different story.

The HSA's Review of Construction Fatalities in the Republic of Ireland 2022–2024, reported in October 2026, looked at the 23 people who died working in Irish construction over those three years. The findings should make every small builder, roofer, farmer and homeowner stop and think.

What the review found

•       19 of the 23 deaths (83%) happened on sites with between one and four workers.

•       15 deaths were falls from height, the single biggest cause.

•       20 of those who died were aged 35 to 64. These were experienced people, not first-week apprentices.

•       10 were self-employed.

•       Most deaths happened on everyday work: single houses and small housing schemes, repairs and maintenance on homes and commercial buildings, and construction work on farms.

The review followed a difficult 2025, when construction deaths doubled from five to ten, according to the HSA's provisional figures.

As the HSA's assistant chief executive Eibhlin O'Leary put it: "Every fatality in construction represents a person who went to work and did not come home."

Why small jobs carry big risks

None of this means small contractors care less about safety. In our experience the opposite is often true. But small jobs have a few things working against them:

•       They're quick. A two-hour repair doesn't feel like it needs a plan, so the ladder comes off the van and the job starts.

•       There's no one else to check. On a large site, a safety adviser, a site manager and a PSCS are all looking out. On a one-person job, it's just you.

•       Experience breeds familiarity. Someone who has been up roofs for 30 years can stop noticing the hazards. The review's age profile suggests this is a real factor.

•       Fragile surfaces and open edges. Roof lights, old cement sheeting on farm sheds and unprotected edges are behind many falls.

•       Pressure from the client. Homeowners and farmers want the job done quickly and cheaply, and edge protection or a scaffold can feel like an extra.

A five-minute check before you work at height

Before anyone leaves the ground, run through these questions:

1.      Can we avoid working at height altogether? Can the work be done from the ground with long-reach tools, or by bringing the item down?

2.      Is the access right for the job? Ladders are for short, light, low-risk work. For anything longer, use a scaffold tower, a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) or proper scaffolding.

3.      Are the edges protected? Guardrails and toe boards come first. Harnesses and nets are a back-up, not a substitute.

4.      Is anything fragile? Assume roof lights and old roof sheets will not take your weight. Use crawling boards, covers or netting, and never walk on them.

5.      Has the scaffold been inspected? A competent person should inspect it before first use, at least every seven days, and after anything that could affect it, such as high winds, with the results recorded.

6.      Does someone know where you are? If you're working alone, agree check-in times and keep a charged phone on you.

7.      Is it written down? A short, site-specific risk assessment or RAMS doesn't need to be long. It makes you think the job through, and it's what the HSA will ask to see.

If you're the one hiring

Homeowners, farmers and business owners are not off the hook. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, anyone who commissions building work is a client, with legal duties, including appointing competent people and, in many cases, a Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) and a Project Supervisor for the Construction Stage (PSCS). The HSA publishes a plain-English guide for homeowners.

When you get quotes, ask each contractor:

•       How will you get up there safely?

•       Will there be edge protection or a scaffold?

•       Can I see your risk assessment or method statement for this job?

A good contractor will be glad you asked.

How Blackrock Safety Group can help

We work with contractors, farmers and businesses across Cork and Munster to make safety practical, not paperwork for the sake of it. We can help with:

•       Site-specific RAMS and work at height risk assessments your team will actually read

•       Site inspections to spot falls risks before they become incidents

•       PSCS support on smaller projects

•       Safety Statements for small firms and sole traders

If you have a job coming up that involves work at height, or you're not sure what the law expects of you, get in touch for a no-obligation chat.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, contact us or refer to the HSA.