What Most Safety Reviews Miss – and How to Get It Right
By Derry Cronin, Group Business Operations Director, EHS International
Too many safety reviews look good on paper but fail to deliver meaningful improvements. At EHS International, we’ve worked with organisations across construction, pharma, manufacturing and other high-risk industries that thought their safety systems were solid – until a proper review uncovered deeper issues.
This article is for safety leaders, operations managers, and employers across Ireland who want to turn their reviews into something more than a legal formality.
Here’s what we often see being missed – and how you can get it right.
- Compliance Alone Is Not Enough
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to do more than simply maintain paperwork. Safety is not just about compliance – it’s about culture. If workers do not feel safe to speak up or report concerns, even a fully compliant system may fall short in preventing harm.
What to do
Talk to your workforce. Ask open questions about what makes their work feel safe or unsafe. A good review will uncover not just gaps in systems, but gaps in trust, confidence and communication.
- Hazards Can Become ‘Invisible’
We regularly see risks that have become part of the background. A cable across a walkway. A machine guard removed “just for a moment.” Over time, these become normalised – and overlooked.
What to do
Bring in a fresh pair of eyes. Whether it’s an external auditor or a team member from a different site, someone unfamiliar with the environment can often spot what everyone else has learned to ignore.
- Procedures on Paper Don’t Always Match Reality
Under the 2005 Act, employers must provide a safe system of work. But often there’s a gap between what’s written in the Safety Statement and how the task is actually done on site.
What to do
Observe tasks as they’re carried out. Ask workers to walk you through their process. Then compare it to the written procedure or risk assessment. Use these findings to improve training, documentation and supervision.
- Contractors and Temporary Workers Are Often Overlooked
The law makes no distinction between permanent and temporary staff in terms of safety protection. The Construction Regulations 2013 and the General Application Regulations make it clear that contractors must be inducted, supervised, and managed with the same level of care.
What to do
Make sure contractors and agency workers are included in safety reviews. Assess how they’re onboarded, briefed and monitored. Safety applies equally to all personnel on site.
- Too Many Actions Without Prioritisation Leads to Inaction
Risk assessments are legally required under Section 19 of the 2005 Act. But even when risks are identified, we often see long lists of actions treated as equally urgent – and as a result, none are resolved quickly.
What to do
Apply a simple risk matrix. Prioritise actions based on likelihood and severity. Assign each action an owner and set realistic, tracked deadlines. This helps ensure that the most serious issues are resolved first.
- Failing to Recognise Good Practice
Many safety reviews focus only on what’s wrong. While identifying hazards is essential, the HSA also encourages employers to promote a positive safety culture – and that includes recognising what’s working well.
What to do
Note where safety leadership, good housekeeping, or near-miss reporting is working effectively. Share those successes in team meetings or toolbox talks. Positive reinforcement builds engagement.
- Follow-Up Is Where Change Really Happens
Under Section 20 of the 2005 Act, employers must not only prepare a Safety Statement but also review and update it regularly, based on changes and new risks. A safety review without follow-up achieves nothing.
What to do
Track the progress of each action item. Ensure your safety review process includes scheduled follow-up, whether internally or with external support. At EHS International, we provide ongoing assistance to help clients move from findings to fixes.
Quick Self-Check: Is Your Safety Review Missing the Mark?
Ask yourself:
- Do you see the same safety issues appearing over and over again?
- Are your contractors and temporary staff included in the review process?
- Are review findings followed up consistently and closed out?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, it might be time to rethink your approach.
A good safety review should do more than tick legal boxes. It should identify hidden risks, give your people a voice, and lead to real improvements that protect your business and your team.
At EHS International, we help organisations across Ireland conduct safety reviews that are compliant, practical, and designed to bring about lasting change. If your current reviews are not delivering the results you need, we are ready to help you raise the bar.
What You Can Do Next
Speak with Derry, or one of our Ireland-based EHS specialists. We will walk through your current process and help you identify where your review system could be strengthened.
Call +353 (0)21 206 6006 (Cork), +353 (0) 1 9058899 (Dublin, +44 28 9073 7800 (Belfast), +44 204 534 7550 (London) or email [email protected]
About the Author
Derry Cronin
Group Business Operations Director, EHS International
Derry Cronin is the Group Business Operations Director at EHS International, where he plays a central role in overseeing and coordinating the company's service delivery across Ireland and the UK. With over 30 years of experience working across construction, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, and other critical industries, Derry brings deep operational insight and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Throughout his career, Derry has built a strong reputation for driving efficiency, improving systems, and ensuring high standards in health, safety, and environmental performance. At EHS International, he is responsible for aligning the company's resources, people, and processes to ensure consistent and high-quality outcomes for clients across all sectors.
