Each October, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) leads Ireland’s flagship safety awareness campaign for the construction sector. Running from 13 to 24 October 2025, this year’s theme Back to Basics encourages everyone in construction to refocus on the fundamentals of safety leadership, communication, and culture.

At EHS International, we are proud to support the CIF in proconstruction-meetings-minutes-300x169 | CIF Construction Safety Campaign 2025: Back to Basics for a Safer Future | EHS Internationalmoting practical, hands-on safety awareness across sites in Ireland, the UK, and beyond. Our teams work every day with contractors, designers, and project supervisors to strengthen compliance, build competence, and ensure that every worker returns home safely.

Why “Back to Basics” Matters

In construction, the simplest habits often have the greatest impact. Checking access equipment, verifying isolation, or stopping to reassess a lift plan are small actions that prevent serious injury. This year’s campaign calls on all duty holders to renew their focus on basic but essential principles such as leadership, supervision, communication, and safe systems of work.

By reinforcing these core behaviours, the industry can reduce risk and strengthen safety culture across every level of the supply chain.

Daily Focus Areas

During the two-week campaign, the CIF encourages companies to run daily activities, toolbox talks, or site-wide conversations built around key topics such as:

• Leadership in Safety – inspiring teams through visible, consistent engagement
• Utilities Safety – planning and verifying works around buried services and overhead lines
• Developing the Next Generation – mentoring apprentices and younger workers
• Critical Risks – prioritising high-hazard tasks where the greatest potential for harm exists
• Working at Height – maintaining vigilance on the industry’s most persistent cause of fatality

These themes offer practical opportunities for site leaders to connect, communicate, and reinforce safe work practices.

How to Take Part

Here are some ways to participate in the CIF Construction Safety Campaign with the support of EHS International:

  1. Deliver a Safety Talk or Refresher Session
    Our training team provides short, focused sessions on topics such as working at height, confined spaces, utilities safety, and risk awareness. Training can be delivered onsite or live online, ensuring accessibility for all teams.

  2. Review Your Safety Statement and Construction Phase Plan
    Our Consultancy and Audit teams assist clients in updating safety statements, risk assessments, and project documentation to align with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 and other Irish and EU legislation.

  3. Strengthen Site Leadership and Supervision
    Through our IOSH Managing Safely and Leadership for Mental Health programmes, we help site managers and supervisors lead by example, creating an open culture where safety conversations happen daily.

  4. Enhance Competence through Accredited Training
    EHS International delivers a comprehensive range of accredited training including Safe Pass, Manual Handling, IOSH PSDP and PSCS, NEBOSH Qualifications, and bespoke in-house training designed specifically for construction teams.

  5. Embrace Technology and Immersive Learning
    We are proud to lead the way in Virtual Reality (VR) Fire Training through FLAIM, a fully immersive learning experience that replicates real fire conditions safely. Our blended learning solutions combine innovation with practical experience, helping teams build skills that last.

  6. Improve Emergency Preparedness
    Preparation saves lives. We deliver Fire Warden, PHECC First Aid Response, Cardiac First Responder, and Evacuation Training to ensure that every site team knows how to respond swiftly and effectively in an emergency.

  7. Recognise and Reward Good Practice
    Use the campaign to highlight individuals and teams demonstrating outstanding safety behaviours. Recognition reinforces positive culture and motivates ongoing improvement.

Supporting the Construction Sector Year-Round

At EHS International, our mission is to make safety meaningful, measurable, and future ready. We partner with construction clients of every size to deliver:

• Accredited training programmes (IOSH, NEBOSH, Safe Pass, PHECC, Manual Handling, Fire Safety, Mental Health)
• Construction Safety Consultancy and PSDP/PSCS support
• Safety Statement development and compliance audits
• Risk assessments and site inspections
• Lockout Tagout (LOTO) verification and implementation
• Emergency response and first aid training
• Virtual Reality and blended learning solutions, including FLAIM VR Fire Training
• Wellbeing, leadership, and culture building initiatives

Take Part This October

The CIF Construction Safety Campaign is an opportunity for every organisation in the construction industry to step back, refocus, and strengthen the basics that keep people safe. By combining experience, leadership, and innovation, we can ensure that safety remains at the heart of every project.

Talk to our team today
To discuss your company’s participation in the CIF Construction Safety Campaign or to arrange site-specific training, contact [email protected] or call +353 (0)21 206 6006.

Together, we can build safer sites, stronger teams, and a better future for the construction industry.