Safe Pass Training in Dublin: Who Needs It, What It Covers and How to Renew

Anyone starting work on a construction site in Dublin will be asked one question on the first morning: "Have you got your Safe Pass?" Without a valid card, the answer can mean being turned away. For employers and training managers, knowing who needs the card and when it expires is part of getting people on site safely.

This guide summarises what the state training authority, SOLAS, and the public information service Citizens Information say about the Safe Pass programme. Safe Pass is a national scheme, so the rules are the same in Dublin as anywhere in Ireland. What differs is which approved tutor runs the course near you. We do not name any training providers or quote course prices here, because those change. The Citizens Information page was last edited in March 2023, and the SOLAS page shows no date, so check SOLAS for the current position before relying on any figure below.

What Safe Pass is

Safe Pass is a mandatory one-day health and safety awareness programme for the construction sector. Its aim is to raise safety awareness so that people can work on site without putting themselves or others at risk. SOLAS runs and manages the programme, and employers must make sure employees on site carry a Safe Pass card.

Who needs it

Citizens Information says all construction workers, including apprentices, trainees and on-site security workers, must complete the training and hold a registration card before they work on site. Contractors must make sure everyone under their direct control has a current card. SOLAS says construction workers are legally bound to hold a valid card under the 2013 Construction Regulations.

Forging or altering a card, or giving SOLAS false information, is illegal.

What the course covers

Citizens Information lists five modules:

• site safety legislation and accident reporting
• an introduction to risk assessment
• risk assessment for working at height, electricity and excavation
• general site safety, including construction equipment and vehicles
• personal safety, including protective equipment, noise, vibration, manual handling and welfare

SOLAS says the assessment is multiple-choice. The tutor reads each question twice, and candidates only need to write to complete their card application form.

How long the card lasts and how to renew

Both sources say the card is valid for four years from the training date. It stays valid if you change employers, but must be renewed when it expires. There are two ways to renew:

• A 45-minute computer-based test of 50 questions, taken at a designated test centre. SOLAS says 45 correct answers are needed to pass, and gives the fee as €93.84.
• The full-day, tutor-led course again.

SOLAS says lost, stolen or damaged cards can be replaced for €32, but only if the card is still in date, and that a replacement keeps the original expiry date. Cards are normally issued about five working days after the tutor uploads the results. Treat these fees and timings as a guide and confirm them with SOLAS.

Who pays and how to book

Citizens Information says employers generally pay for the one-day course, and employers must allow paid time off for the training. It also says unemployed people who are offered a construction job may be able to get help with the fee through their local Intreo centre and the Training Support Grant.

Courses are delivered by approved Safe Pass tutors listed on the SOLAS register. SOLAS says you can contact an approved tutor through its register of accredited tutors and confirm a tutor's approval before you book. Tutors charge a fee that covers the course and the card administration. If you are a Dublin employer arranging a group, ask the tutor what they need in advance, such as each worker's name, PPS number and address, which SOLAS says the card application form requires.

Practical points for employers and training managers

The sources above describe the scheme itself. The following points are suggestions from us, not SOLAS requirements:

• Keep a simple record of each worker's card expiry date and diary the renewal well before it lapses.
• Check cards at induction, before anyone starts work on site.
• Remember that Safe Pass covers general safety awareness. Specific tasks such as manual handling or fire safety often need their own training.
• Use only approved tutors, and confirm that approval before paying.

Our guide to Health and Safety Authority mandatory training requirements in Ireland gives the wider picture. Related topics include manual handling training and fire safety training.

Training and CPD

Safe Pass is a starting point, not the end of a worker's safety training. Keep a record of what you learn for your own development, and browse professional development options on our CPD pages.

Key points to remember

• Safe Pass is a mandatory one-day safety awareness course for construction workers in Ireland, run by SOLAS.
• Workers need a card before they start on site, and contractors must check their people have one.
• The card lasts four years and can be renewed by a 45-minute test or the full-day course.
• Employers generally pay and must allow paid time off.
• Use approved tutors from the SOLAS register.

Frequently asked questions

Is Safe Pass different in Dublin?

No. It is a national programme managed by SOLAS. Dublin workers take the same course and hold the same card as anyone else in Ireland.

How long is a Safe Pass card valid?

Four years from the training date, according to both SOLAS and Citizens Information.

Do I need a new card if I change employer?

No. Citizens Information says the card stays valid if you change employers, until it expires.

This guide is for general information. Fees and rules can change, so check with SOLAS before relying on them.