Ireland · Fire safety
Fire safety and emergency plans at work in Ireland
What the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires on emergencies, fire-fighting and evacuation.
English
At a glance
- Section 11 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 covers emergencies and serious and imminent dangers.
- Employers must have adequate plans and procedures for emergencies.
- Employers must provide measures for first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation suited to the work and the size of the workplace.
- Employees must receive health and safety training, including measures to be taken in an emergency.
Emergency plans
The HSA summarises section 11 of the 2005 Act: the employer must provide adequate plans and procedures to be followed, and measures to be taken, in the case of an emergency or serious and imminent danger. This includes measures for first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation, taking account of the nature of the work and the size of the workplace, and arranging contacts with the emergency services.
Training
Among the employer's general duties, employees must receive adequate safety, health and welfare training during working time and without loss of pay — in particular information and instruction on the specific task and on the measures to be taken in an emergency.
Fire wardens
The 2005 Act does not use a single job title for this role. Many employers appoint and train fire wardens as part of the emergency measures that section 11 requires; the number and duties follow from the employer's risk assessment.
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Official sources
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005Health and Safety Authority · hsa.ie · Checked 2026-10-06