Safety Managers Training Course
CPD-Certified 1-Day Programme - 6.5 Hours - Section 80 Liability - 3-Year Certification
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This course is available as a public scheduled course open to individual bookings. View upcoming dates and secure your place.
Course Overview
Health and safety training for managers. This CPD-accredited 1-day course covers your legal responsibilities under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. You learn what the law expects of you, where personal liability under Section 80 comes from, and how to run a safety management system that works. The 2005 Act places responsibility for safety and health directly on those in charge of the workplace. In practice, this means managers must be able to show what they did to keep people safe. The course sets out the arrangements the Act and the General Application Regulations 2007 require. On-site delivery across Ireland, remote via Microsoft Teams, or at scheduled public courses with 3-year certification.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for managers and those with responsibility for safety in the workplace.
Directors & Senior Managers
Directors, senior managers, and executives with overall responsibility for workplace safety and corporate governance.
Department Heads
Department heads who manage teams and have direct responsibility for their staff's safety and welfare.
Line Managers & Supervisors
Line managers and supervisors who oversee day-to-day work activities and are responsible for staff safety on the ground.
Operations Managers
Those managing operations, production, or service delivery where safety implications are a daily consideration.
Site & Facilities Managers
Managers responsible for specific sites, premises, or facilities, including building safety and compliance.
HR Professionals
HR professionals with responsibility for employee welfare, safety training programmes, and return-to-work procedures.
Topics Covered
- Overview of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- Manager duties and responsibilities under the 2005 Act
- Personal liability under Section 80: offences by directors and officers
- Safety statements: preparation, content, and review (Section 20)
- Risk assessment requirements (Section 19)
- General Principles of Prevention (Schedule 3)
- General Application Regulations 2007: key requirements
- Safety management systems: planning, implementation, and review
- Accident and incident investigation for managers
- Safety consultation with employees (Sections 25 and 26)
- HSA enforcement powers: improvement and prohibition notices
- Demonstrating due diligence and building a safety culture
Course Details
Delivery
On-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, at scheduled public courses, or remote instructor-led via Microsoft Teams.
Duration
6.5 hours (1 full day) - includes theory, case studies, practical exercises, and group discussion.
CPD Hours
CPD-accredited by the CPD Standards Office (Provider Number: 22657).
Certification
Phoenix STS Safety Managers Training Certificate valid for 3 years. Refresher training recommended before expiry or when legislation changes.
Maximum Learners
20 participants per session.
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites. Designed for managers at all levels. English language proficiency required.
Why Choose This Course
Equip your management team with the legal knowledge and practical skills to lead safety effectively.
Section 80 Liability
Understand personal liability for directors and officers under Section 80 of the 2005 Act. Learn how to demonstrate due diligence and protect yourself.
CPD-Accredited
Accredited by the CPD Standards Office (Provider No. 22657). Recognised certification for career progression in safety management.
Practical Case Studies
Real-world case studies and group exercises - not just legislation. Apply learning to your own management responsibilities.
All Industries
Relevant to manufacturing, healthcare, construction, hospitality, retail, and corporate environments. Instructors tailor examples to your sector.
Experienced Instructors
Our instructors have practical experience in safety management across multiple industries, ensuring training is relevant to your role.
Flexible Delivery
On-site, public courses, or remote via Microsoft Teams. Same curriculum, same certification, same quality.
What's Included
Your course fee includes:
Comprehensive Course Materials - legislation reference pack, manager's safety checklist, and course handouts
CPD-Accredited Certificate - Phoenix STS Safety Managers Training Certificate valid for 3 years
Case Studies and Exercises - real-world scenarios exploring manager responsibilities, due diligence, and liability
Safety Statement Templates - practical templates and checklists for safety management
Risk Assessment Guidance - overview of risk assessment requirements under Section 19
Post-Course Email Support - direct access to your instructor for guidance after the course
Renewal Reminder Service - we'll contact you before your 3-year certificate expires
What You'll Learn
The course covers five core areas essential for managers with safety responsibilities.
Manager Duties Under the 2005 Act
Your legal obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. What the Act requires of employers, managers, and supervisors. How responsibility flows through the organisation.
Personal Liability - Section 80
Section 80 of the 2005 Act makes directors and managers personally accountable when their consent, connivance or neglect leads to an offence by the company. In plain terms: if safety failures happen on your watch, you can be prosecuted personally. The course shows you how to demonstrate due diligence and avoid that position.
Safety Management Systems
How to plan, implement, and review a safety management system. Safety statements (Section 20), risk assessments (Section 19), the General Principles of Prevention, and the role of the safety committee.
Accident Investigation and Reporting
How managers should respond to workplace accidents and incidents. Investigation methodology, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and legal reporting requirements.
Building a Safety Culture
How managers lead by example. Engaging employees in safety through consultation (Sections 25 and 26), safety committees, and visible management commitment. Creating an environment where safety concerns are reported and addressed.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, you will be able to:
- Understand your legal responsibilities as a manager under the 2005 Act
- Explain Section 80 personal liability and demonstrate due diligence
- Oversee safety statements, risk assessments, and safety management systems
- Investigate accidents effectively and implement corrective actions
- Consult with employees and Safety Representatives on safety matters
- Build and maintain a positive safety culture in your area of responsibility
- Respond to HSA enforcement action including improvement and prohibition notices
- Demonstrate organisational commitment to safety through leadership
Course Programme
The 6.5-hour programme balances legislation, case studies, and practical management exercises.
Morning Session: Legislation and Manager Duties
- Welcome and course introduction
- Overview of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- Manager duties and employer obligations
- Personal liability: Section 80 - offences by directors and officers
- Safety statements (Section 20) and risk assessments (Section 19)
- General Principles of Prevention (Schedule 3)
- General Application Regulations 2007: key requirements for managers
- Case study: manager liability in a workplace incident
Afternoon Session: Safety Management and Culture
- Safety management systems: planning, implementation, and review
- Accident and incident investigation for managers
- HSA enforcement: improvement notices, prohibition notices, and prosecution
- Demonstrating due diligence: what managers need to evidence
- Safety consultation with employees (Sections 25 and 26)
- Building a safety culture: leadership, engagement, and visible commitment
- Group discussion: applying learning to your workplace
- Course summary and certification
Irish Compliance Context
Managers have specific legal obligations under Irish health and safety law:
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
The 2005 Act places duties on every employer to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees. Sections 8 to 12 cover risk assessment, safety statements, training and emergency procedures. For managers, this means safety duties are part of the day job, not an optional extra.
Section 80 - Personal Liability
If the company commits a safety offence and a court finds that a director or manager allowed it to happen, that person can be prosecuted as an individual. Penalties include fines and imprisonment. Clear records of safety decisions and actions are the practical defence.
General Application Regulations 2007
The General Application Regulations 2007 implement EU workplace safety directives in Irish law. They set the detailed rules on workplace design, manual handling, display screen equipment, PPE and work at height. These are the standards your workplace is inspected against.
HSA Enforcement Powers
The Health and Safety Authority can issue improvement notices, issue prohibition notices and prosecute. Managers need to know how each notice works and what evidence demonstrates compliance and due diligence.
If your organisation also needs outside support with its safety management system, see our health and safety consultancy service.
Benefits
For Managers
- Understand how to demonstrate due diligence and protect yourself from personal liability
- Recognised CPD-accredited certification in safety management
- Practical skills in risk assessment, accident investigation, and safety systems
- Confidence to manage safety in your area of responsibility
- Career progression through recognised safety management qualification
For Your Organisation
- Ensure managers understand and fulfil their legal responsibilities under the 2005 Act
- Trained managers identify and control hazards before incidents occur
- Build a positive safety culture through informed management leadership
- Demonstrate organisational commitment to safety to regulators and insurers
- Reduce workplace accidents, insurance claims, and associated costs
Assessment and Certification
Assessment is through participation, case study analysis, and group exercises throughout the day.
Phoenix STS Safety Managers Training Certificate - valid for 3 years
CPD Certificate - confirming CPD hours (Provider No. 22657)
Refresher Training - recommended every 3 years or when legislation changes
Renewal Reminder - we'll notify you before your certificate expires
Our Instructors
All instructors are experienced in delivering safety management training to management audiences across multiple industries. Our instructors hold memberships with:
- IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
- IIESMS - Institute of Industrial Engineers and Safety Management Systems
- IIRSM - International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
- L&DI - Learning and Development Institute of Ireland
Qualifications include BSc Environmental Health and Safety Management, Higher Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor, and QQI Level 6 Train the Trainer.
Ready to Train Your Management Team?
Equip your managers with the legal knowledge and practical skills to lead safety effectively. Places limited to 20. Secure your place today.
ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 9001:2015 certified. CPD-accredited. Over 15 years' experience across Ireland.
Compare Our Health & Safety Courses
Safety Managers Training
This course - 1-day manager programme
Duration: 6.5 hours (1 day)
Max: 20 learners
Cert: 3 years
Focus: Manager duties, Section 80 liability, safety systems, due diligence, culture
Ideal for: Directors, managers, supervisors, HR professionals
Safety Representative Training
3-day HSA programme
Duration: 21 hours (3 days)
Max: 12 learners
Cert: 3 years
Focus: Section 25 Safety Rep role, inspections, investigations, consultation
Ideal for: Elected/appointed Safety Representatives
Available Nationwide Across Ireland
Phoenix STS delivers the Safety Managers Training Course on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, at scheduled public courses, or via live remote sessions through Microsoft Teams.
We have delivered this course to organisations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford, and locations across Ireland.
Contact us for a training quotation or call 043 334 9611.
What Safety Managers Can Realistically Influence
Managers need a working system
A safety manager or nominated manager needs more than awareness. They need to understand how safety duties become practical actions: risk assessments, training records, incident follow-up, consultation, contractor control, inspections and management review.
Training does not replace competent advice
The course supports managers in understanding their role, but it does not turn every attendee into a specialist in every risk area. Fire safety, occupational hygiene, machinery, chemical safety, healthcare evacuation and other specialist topics may still require competent advice.
Evidence must be usable
Good safety management is visible in records and follow-up. If inspections identify problems, someone must own the action. If training gaps appear, they need a plan. If incidents repeat, the controls need to be reviewed rather than simply filed.
Leadership behaviour matters
Managers influence whether staff report issues early, whether near misses are taken seriously, and whether safety controls are treated as normal work. The course should help managers make safety part of routine decision-making rather than an occasional paperwork exercise.
After the Course
After training, managers should review the safety actions they already own and decide which records, inspections or communications need to be improved first. The value of the course is in turning management responsibility into visible routine action.
Related Health and Safety Training
Useful Phoenix STS pages connected to this course.
Risk Assessment Training Course
Training for staff who need to complete or review practical workplace risk assessments.
Safety Representative Training Course
Training for safety representatives involved in consultation and workplace safety communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Content last reviewed: June 2026.
No specific course is mandated by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. However, a manager whose neglect contributes to a safety offence by the company can be prosecuted personally under Section 80. This course gives managers the knowledge to fulfil their duties and demonstrate due diligence.
Section 80 applies when a company commits a safety offence and a director, manager or similar officer consented to it, turned a blind eye, or neglected their duties. That person is then guilty of the offence in their own right, separate from the company. They can face personal fines or prosecution.
The Phoenix STS Safety Managers Training Certificate is valid for 3 years. Refresher training is recommended before expiry or when there are significant changes to legislation or your organisation's safety management systems.
Yes. We run scheduled public Safety Managers Training Course dates. Public courses are ideal for individual managers. Visit our public courses page to view upcoming dates and book your place.
Yes. We deliver this course on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland. On-site delivery lets us tailor the content to your organisation's risks, safety systems and management structure.
Yes. We offer live remote delivery via Microsoft Teams with the same curriculum, case studies, group exercises, and certification as the on-site version.
Directors, senior managers, department heads, line managers, supervisors, operations managers, site managers and HR professionals. Anyone with responsibility for workplace safety at any level will benefit.
No. There are no formal prerequisites. The course is designed for managers at all levels and starts with the fundamentals of safety legislation before progressing to management-specific responsibilities.
The Safety Managers Training Course covers manager responsibilities, Section 80 personal liability, safety management systems and leadership. The Safety Representative Training Course covers the employee representative role under Section 25, including workplace inspections and accident investigation. They serve different audiences.
The maximum class size is 20 participants. This keeps case study discussion and group exercises meaningful.