These Regulations were signed by Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on 14 June 2007 and they came into operation on 1 November 2007.
The regulations replace, simplify and update 25 existing sets of regulations and orders and apply to all places of work. Comprehensive guidelines are available form our Publications Section.
A toolkit aimed particularly at small businesses (including a checklist) is available from our Publications Section
In addition to the Guidance referred to, please note that –
(a) Regulation 2(2) of the General Application Regulations 2007 requires an employer to ensure that, where activities mentioned in sections 6 and 11(5) of the Act (i.e. application of the relevant statutory provisions to prisons and places of detention and to the Defence Forces except in specified circumstances) are being carried out, the safety, health and welfare of the employer’s employees are protected as far as possible, taking account of the relevant statutory provisions, and
(b) Regulation 2(3) requires that, without prejudice to the generality of section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, relating to hazard identification and risk assessment, an employer must, in identifying hazards and assessing risks under that section, take account of particular risks, if any, affecting employees working alone at the place of work or working in isolation at remote locations.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 176 of 2010)
These Regulations, which amended S.I. No. 299 of 2007, were signed by Batt O'Keeffe, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on 5 November 2007 and they came into operation on the 29th of April 2010.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application)(Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 732 of 2007)
These Regulations, which amended S.I. No. 299 of 2007, were signed by Billy Kelleher, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on 5 November 2007 and they came into operation on 12 November 2007.
Click this link for the Background to the General Application Regulations 2007