Safety and Health Group
CPD, professional recognition and sector engagement for occupational safety, risk management, safety systems and workplace health practice.
About the Safety and Health Group
The Safety and Health Group supports IIESMS members working in occupational safety, risk assessment, safety management systems, workplace controls, contractor safety, construction safety, training and related advisory roles.
The group provides a professional home for CPD, committee involvement, peer discussion and practical knowledge sharing. It is relevant to members who help organisations manage workplace hazards, improve safety arrangements and maintain competent practice.
The group supports professional development and member engagement. It does not replace employer duties, statutory requirements, HSA guidance or specialist legal advice.
Regulatory and Standards Framework
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 - The primary occupational health and safety legislation in Ireland, establishing employer duties, employee responsibilities, and the statutory basis for HSA enforcement
General Application Regulations 2007 - Detailed regulations covering specific workplace hazards including manual handling, display screen equipment, work at height, noise, and personal protective equipment
Construction Regulations 2013 - Regulations governing safety on construction sites, including the roles of Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) and Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS)
Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 - Requirements for managing risks from chemical agents in the workplace, including assessment, prevention, and control measures
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016 - Requirements for reporting workplace accidents, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases to the HSA
The Safety and Health Group supports members in understanding and applying these requirements in their professional practice, ensuring that their work meets the standards expected by employers, regulators, and the public.
Key Focus Areas
The Safety and Health Group organises its activities around six core focus areas that reflect the breadth of professional practice in this discipline.
Risk Assessment and Management
Conducting workplace risk assessments, identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing proportionate control measures in accordance with the hierarchy of controls established by the 2005 Act.
Safety Management Systems
Developing, implementing, and auditing safety management systems that ensure organisations meet their legal obligations and maintain a proactive approach to workplace safety.
Safety Statements and Documentation
Preparing safety statements as required by Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, including risk assessments, emergency plans, and safe systems of work.
Construction Safety
Managing safety on construction sites under the Construction Regulations 2013, including PSDP and PSCS duties, method statements, and site-specific risk management.
Training and Competence
Designing and delivering workplace safety training programmes, including manual handling, working at height, confined spaces, and safety representative training.
Incident Investigation and Compliance
Investigating workplace accidents and near-miss incidents, identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, and managing HSA reporting obligations under the 2016 Regulations.
Sector Committee and Governance
The Safety and Health Group is chaired by Ray McKenna, F.IIESMS. Ray holds an MSc in Management of Safety and Health at Work from Dublin City University (NFQ Level 9), a Postgraduate Diploma in Fire Safety Engineering from Trinity College Dublin (NFQ Level 9) and a Higher Diploma in Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare from University College Dublin. He is an ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA certified), a Graduate member of IOSH and the Institute of Fire Engineers, and Chairman of the Fire Risk Management Section of IOSH Ireland. With over 30 years of service in the Irish Defence Forces as Battalion Health and Safety Officer and Fire Officer, and as National Health and Safety Officer for PDFORRA since 2010, Ray brings deep operational and regulatory safety experience to the sector group.
The group operates as an advisory body to the IIESMS National Council under Terms of Reference v1.0 and reports to Council through the Business Development Officer and Education and Membership Officer liaison. Voting membership is drawn from across the IIESMS grades with a working target of up to 16 members and a quorum of three. The group meets at least quarterly and produces standard annual outputs including the Annual Work Plan (G-AWP), Council Report (G-RPT) and Expression of Interest form (G-EOI). Decision authority on matters affecting the Institute rests with the National Council; the group's role is to inform, shape and execute the work plan it has been delegated.
Professional development and grade routes
Members working in safety and health may use the group to identify relevant CPD, maintain evidence of learning and connect professional experience to the IIESMS membership or certified grade route that best fits their evidence.
The safety and health certified grades are Practitioner in Safety and Health (PSH.IIESMS) and Certified Practitioner in Safety and Health (CPSH.IIESMS). Applicants should use the published membership criteria and provide evidence of completed qualifications, relevant experience, CPD and professional practice.
Relevant CPD activity
Relevant CPD may include workplace risk assessment, safety management systems, construction safety, chemical safety, manual handling, accident learning, audits, standards or legislation updates, professional reading, committee work and practical project learning.
Members should record the activity, date, learning outcome and evidence retained, and should connect CPD to their role, grade and professional development needs.
How to Get Involved
Join the Safety and Health Group in four steps.
Join IIESMS
Apply for the membership grade that matches your completed qualifications and evidenced experience. Use Find Your Grade if you are unsure.
Select Your Sector
Indicate your interest in the Safety and Health Group during the application process or contact the Institute to be added to this sector group.
Attend Events
Participate in sector-specific events, webinars, and networking sessions organised by the Safety and Health Group throughout the year.
Contribute
Express interest in committee work, present at events, mentor early-career members, or contribute to policy submissions where relevant. Your expertise helps support professional standards across Ireland.
Explore Other Sector Groups
IIESMS members can engage with multiple sector groups. Discover related disciplines and expand your professional network.
Fire Safety Group
Fire risk assessment, fire detection and alarm systems, passive fire protection, emergency response planning, and fire safety management.
Healthcare Group
Non-clinical safety in healthcare environments including fire safety, facilities management, and safety in hospitals and nursing homes.
Industrial Engineering Group
Lean manufacturing, process improvement, operations management, supply chain optimisation, quality, and operational excellence.
Facilities Management Group
Building services, maintenance engineering, energy management, space planning, asset management, and facility operations.
Get involved
Join IIESMS, select the Safety and Health Group where it matches your work, and use the group to support relevant CPD, professional discussion and evidence for grade progression.
Related Pages and Articles
Useful next steps connected to this page.
Safety and Health Grades
Compare the practitioner and certified practitioner routes on the memberships page.
CPD Requirements
Maintain CPD records for occupational safety, risk management and workplace health practice.
Sector Groups
Explore related groups across fire safety, facilities management and healthcare systems.
Safety and Health CPD
Read how safety and health practice connects CPD, evidence and professional standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the IIESMS Safety and Health Group
Any IIESMS member with a professional interest or role in workplace safety and health can join. This includes safety officers, safety managers, risk assessors, safety consultants, ergonomists, and occupational health professionals. You must hold IIESMS membership at any grade.
The group focuses primarily on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and its associated regulations, including the General Application Regulations 2007 and Construction Regulations 2013. EU safety directives and their transposition into Irish law are also covered.
IIESMS offers Practitioner in Safety and Health (PSH.IIESMS) requiring NFQ Level 7 and 2 years of experience, and Certified Practitioner in Safety and Health (CPSH.IIESMS) requiring NFQ Level 8 and 4 years of experience. Both are EUR 295 per year.
IIESMS is an independent professional body. The Health and Safety Authority is the state regulator for workplace safety in Ireland. IIESMS supports professional development and member engagement, but it does not replace HSA requirements, employer duties or legal advice.
Yes, where the activity is relevant to your role, grade and professional development needs. Keep evidence of attendance or completion and record the learning outcome.
Yes. Construction safety under the Construction Regulations 2013, including PSDP and PSCS roles, is a significant area of practice for many Safety and Health Group members and is covered in the group's CPD programme.
Members can contribute by attending events, suggesting CPD topics, sharing professional experience, presenting where appropriate, mentoring early-career members or expressing interest in committee work where a suitable role is available.
If you have responsibilities for workplace safety within an HR role, the Safety and Health Group provides relevant CPD and professional networking. The group welcomes professionals from any background who have a substantive role in workplace safety management.