Healthcare Safety Statement
A healthcare safety statement is a legal requirement for nursing homes, residential care facilities, and designated centres in Ireland. Our bespoke safety statements are tailored to the unique challenges of healthcare environments, ensuring compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and HIQA expectations. All documents prepared by qualified health and safety professionals. Professional indemnity insured.
Healthcare Safety Statement Ireland
Bespoke healthcare safety statements for nursing homes and designated centres across Ireland. At Phoenix STS, we understand that crafting a safety statement for healthcare facilities goes beyond ticking compliance boxes. It represents a profound commitment to safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of residents and staff. Our safety statements are meticulously designed to meet the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the General Application Regulations 2007, and HIQA standards.
⚕️ HIQA Requirements: Safety Statements for Designated Centres
HIQA requires that designated centres maintain robust governance and management systems including documented safety arrangements. A comprehensive healthcare safety statement demonstrates your commitment to protecting residents, staff, and visitors while meeting regulatory expectations.
Phoenix STS develops healthcare safety statements that directly address HIQA expectations, providing the documented evidence inspectors require during registration and inspection visits.
2005 Act
Fully Compliant
HIQA
Standards Aligned
Bespoke
Tailored to Your Facility
PI Insurance
Full Cover
Healthcare Safety Statement Enquiries
Why Healthcare Facilities Need a Safety Statement
📋 Legal Requirement
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires every employer to prepare a written safety statement. This is a legal obligation, not optional, and must be specific to your workplace.
🛡️ Resident Protection
A comprehensive safety statement identifies hazards affecting vulnerable residents and establishes control measures to protect them from preventable harm in your care.
✅ HIQA Inspections
HIQA inspectors expect to see a current, facility-specific safety statement during registration and inspection visits. It forms part of your governance and management evidence.
👥 Staff Awareness
The safety statement must be brought to the attention of all employees. It ensures staff understand hazards, control measures, and their responsibilities for maintaining a safe workplace.
⚖️ Legal Protection
A comprehensive safety statement demonstrates that your organisation has taken reasonable steps to identify hazards and implement control measures, providing important legal protection.
📊 Foundation for Safety Management
The safety statement serves as the cornerstone of your safety management system, bringing together policies, risk assessments, and emergency procedures in one comprehensive document.
What’s Included in a Healthcare Safety Statement
A healthcare safety statement must contain specific elements required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Our bespoke safety statements include:
📋 Safety Policy
A clear statement of your organisation’s commitment to health and safety, signed by the Registered Provider or Person in Charge, establishing the foundation for your safety culture.
🏢 Organisation and Responsibilities
Detailed allocation of health and safety responsibilities at all levels, from the Registered Provider through management to individual staff members, ensuring everyone understands their role.
🔍 Risk Assessments
Comprehensive risk assessments covering all hazards in your facility including manual handling, infection control, slips and trips, challenging behaviour, medication management, and fire safety.
🛡️ Control Measures
Detailed control measures for each identified hazard, following the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or reduce risks to the lowest reasonably practicable level.
🚨 Emergency Procedures
Procedures for fire evacuation, medical emergencies, utility failures, severe weather, and other emergency situations specific to your facility.
🎓 Training Requirements
Identification of health and safety training requirements for all roles, including induction training, refresher schedules, and competency requirements.
💬 Consultation Arrangements
Details of how you consult with employees on health and safety matters, including safety representatives and safety committees where applicable.
📊 Monitoring and Review
Arrangements for monitoring safety performance, investigating incidents, and reviewing the safety statement to ensure it remains current and effective.
Our Healthcare Safety Statement Development Process
Initial Consultation
We discuss your facility, current safety arrangements, any incidents or concerns, HIQA findings, and specific requirements to scope the safety statement appropriately.
Site Visit and Risk Assessment
A qualified health and safety consultant visits your premises to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, observe operations, and gather information needed for a bespoke safety statement.
Safety Statement Drafting
We prepare your bespoke healthcare safety statement incorporating all required elements, tailored to your specific facility, resident profile, and operational requirements.
Review and Approval
Draft safety statement submitted for your review. We incorporate feedback and finalise the document for signing by the Registered Provider or Person in Charge.
Delivery and Implementation Support
Final safety statement delivered in editable format. We provide guidance on communicating the statement to staff, displaying requirements, and ongoing review procedures.
Legislative Framework for Healthcare Safety Statements
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (Section 20): Requires every employer to prepare a written safety statement based on hazard identification and risk assessment, specifying how safety will be managed.
- General Application Regulations 2007: Provides detailed requirements for specific hazards that must be addressed in the safety statement including manual handling, display screen equipment, and workplace design.
- HIQA National Standards: Requires designated centres to have documented safety management arrangements as part of governance and management requirements.
- Health Act 2007: Establishes the regulatory framework for designated centres including requirements for safe environments.
- Fire Services Act 1981 (as amended): Fire safety arrangements referenced in the safety statement must align with fire safety legislation.
⚠️ Safety Statement Development Insurance
Given the legal importance of safety statements in healthcare facilities, it is essential that your provider carries comprehensive professional indemnity insurance. Phoenix STS maintains comprehensive PI insurance specifically covering health and safety consultancy services for healthcare facilities, protecting your organisation should any deficiency in our work contribute to loss or regulatory action.
Benefits of Phoenix STS Healthcare Safety Statements
- Healthcare Expertise: Our consultants possess extensive knowledge of healthcare-specific hazards, HIQA expectations, and best practices for nursing homes and designated centres.
- Bespoke Documents: Every safety statement is tailored to your specific facility. We never use generic templates that fail to reflect your actual hazards and arrangements.
- Comprehensive Risk Assessments: Safety statements include thorough risk assessments covering all healthcare-specific hazards in your facility.
- Integrated Approach: Safety statements integrate with your health and safety policies, fire safety policies, and fire safety management systems.
- Editable Formats: Safety statements delivered in editable formats allowing you to make updates as your facility changes, with version control guidance.
- Staff Training: Our comprehensive range of on-site and online courses supports implementation of your safety statement with CPD-certified training.
Healthcare Safety Statement FAQs
What is a safety statement?
A safety statement is a written document required under Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. It specifies how you will manage and secure the safety, health, and welfare of employees and others. It must be based on hazard identification and risk assessment, and must be specific to your workplace.
Is a safety statement a legal requirement?
Yes. Every employer must prepare a written safety statement. If you employ three or more people, the safety statement must be in writing. Failure to have an adequate safety statement is an offence under the 2005 Act and can result in prosecution by the Health and Safety Authority.
How often should a safety statement be reviewed?
The safety statement must be reviewed and amended whenever there is a significant change in matters to which it relates, and at least annually. Changes triggering review include new equipment, changed work practices, building alterations, new hazards, incidents, or changes in legislation. HIQA expects evidence of regular review.
Can we use a template safety statement?
The law requires that your safety statement be based on hazard identification and risk assessment specific to your workplace. Generic templates do not meet this requirement. HIQA inspectors will identify template documents that do not reflect your actual facility, and the HSA may take enforcement action against inadequate safety statements.
Who should sign the safety statement?
The safety statement should be signed by a person with overall responsibility for the organisation, typically the Registered Provider for designated centres. The Person in Charge may also sign to demonstrate their commitment to implementing the safety statement. Dating the signature establishes the review date.
Do employees need to see the safety statement?
Yes. The 2005 Act requires that the safety statement be brought to the attention of employees at least annually and whenever it is amended. New employees must be made aware of it on commencement. Many facilities include safety statement awareness in induction training and display the policy section in staff areas.
Do you provide safety statements for nursing home groups?
Yes. For nursing home groups, we can develop a framework safety statement with group-level elements alongside site-specific sections for each facility. Each premises must have a safety statement specific to that location, but common policies and procedures can be standardised across the group.
What format is the safety statement delivered in?
Safety statements are delivered in editable Microsoft Word format, allowing you to make updates as your facility changes. We include version control guidance and provide PDF versions for distribution. The safety statement can be integrated into your existing document management system.
Related Healthcare Safety Services
Get Your Bespoke Healthcare Safety Statement
Contact Phoenix STS to discuss your healthcare safety statement requirements and discover how our bespoke documents can support your legal compliance and protect residents and staff.
Page last updated: January 2026
