Safepass

Safepass is a mandatory one-day health and safety awareness programme.

The aim of the programme is to raise the standard of safety awareness in the construction industry and to ensure that, over time, all site personnel undergo basic health and safety awareness training to enable them to work onsite without being a risk to themselves or others who might be affected by their acts or omissions. Candidates who successfully complete the programme will receive a Safepass Registration Card.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, all construction workers in Ireland - including apprentices and trainees - are legally bound to hold a valid Safepass Registration Card.  Read more on Safepass Legislation here.

The Health and Safety Awareness Training provided under the SOLAS Safe Pass Programme complies with the provisions of the: -

• Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005,

• Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007,

• Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013.

Training organisations and tutors are approved by SOLAS to deliver the Safe Pass Training Programme.  Before you start your programme, you can check that your tutor has been approved by SOLAS here.

Your tutor will charge a fee for participating in the Safe Pass Programme. The fee covers the cost of the training programme and a charge for the administration of the SOLAS Safe Pass Registration Card.

When you complete the programme, your tutor will upload your results to our National Construction Scheme Database. Your Safe Pass Registration Card will be issued to your tutor about five working days after they upload your information to the system. If there are any errors or queries about the information provided by your tutor, your Safe Pass Registration Card could be delayed.

Safe Pass Registration Cards are issued for four years after which time the card holder must attend a Safe Pass course to update their safety awareness training. A new Safe Pass Registration Card will be issued on successful completion of the training course.

 General FAQ’s

1. How do I attend a Safe Pass course?

Employers, trainers or individuals who want to participate in the Safe Pass course can apply by contacting an approved Safe Pass tutor on the Safe Pass Accredited Tutors register, available here

 2. Can I do a Safe Pass course for free?

Generally, your employer pays for the one-day Safe Pass course.  Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must allow you paid time off for safety awareness training.  If you are unemployed and have been offered a job on a construction site but need to have a Safe Pass card before you start work, your local Intreo centre may be able to help with the fee for the training.

3. How do I confirm that a Tutor is SOLAS approved to deliver Safe Pass?

You can confirm by checking the following website: https://www.constructioncourses.ie/Home/PublishedCourses

4. Can I request help with spelling while sitting a Safe pass assessment?

The assessment is not a written test; it is a multiple-choice test. The tutor reads each question twice and the candidates tick one of the possible answers. Candidates ONLY need to write to fill in their card application form with their personal details such as their name, address, PPS number, phone, and signature.

5. I have completed my training but have not received my card

If you have not received your Safe Pass card, you need to contact the Safe Pass tutor who delivered the course as they are responsible for ensuring you receive your card.  The cost of the card is included in the fee you have paid for the course.

6. How do I apply for a replacement card

To apply for lost Safe Pass card you will need to fill in the online Safe Pass Replacement Application, available here https://cardrenewals.solas.ie/#/spass/replace

Please ensure your card is valid, as we cannot process replacement applications for expired Safe Pass cards or cards that are due to expire.
There is a fee of €32 for this service.

7. My Safe Pass card is out of date; how do I get a new one?

You have the option to sit a 45-minute computer test which is made up of 50 questions.  You must sit the test in one of the designated testing centres.  The cost of the renewal test is €93.84, and it can be booked online.  Further details are available here.
Alternatively, if you do not want to renew through this test, you can still renew your Safe Pass through the full day tutor-led classroom programme.

8. Can I have my card registration number?

Safe Pass card details cannot be provided – For a confirmation letter to be issued, which includes the card reg. number, you must apply for a replacement Safe Pass card. Once the application is processed a confirmation letter may be issued to the address or the email address on the application.

If you have made a replacement application and require a confirmation letter, you can email csu@solas.ie to request one. Please include your name and PPS /order ID number in your email.

9. How do I prepare for the On-line Alternative Safe Pass?

 A portal is available to help candidates who intend to renew their Safe Pass by opting for the Online Method.  Using this revision service allows you to review the question set for each of the modules and/or test yourself by taking a mock test. For further details, please refer to SafePass Test - Free Online Revision Portal

10. What card is equivalent to the Safe Pass Card

The Construction Skills Register (CSR Northern Ireland) one day health and safety course is the only course recognised by SOLAS as an equivalent to the SOLAS Safepass course. Any person wishing to avail of this recognition must be in possession of a current CSR Health and Safety card. 

11. How do I become a Safe Pass Tutor

If you want to become a Safe Pass Tutor, you must have a recognised training, safety and construction qualification and meet relevant criteria.  You can apply to become a Safe Pass Tutor, whereby an Approval Panel will review and confirm the outcome.

Email safepass@solas.ie to request an application form.

Additional FAQ have been added here

Alternative Safepass Renewal

What is the Alternative Safepass renewal
The new Safepass renewal test is designed to allow those who have previously completed the classroom-based programme, to renew their Safepass card by completing a computer-based test in an approved Pearson VUE test centre.

For more information, and to create your online SOLAS account for the Safepass Renewal please visit Safe Pass Information - My SafePass (constructioncourses.ie)

Cost and Duration
The exam costs €93.84 which includes the fee for the Safepass card.

A total of 45 minutes is allotted to complete the exam. The exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions, and you must answer 45 questions correctly to pass the exam.

Revise for your Alternative Safepass Renewal

Useful Links and Guides for Alternative Safepass Renewal

How to Register and login to your account

How to book a Test

How to Reschedule and Cancel your Test

Frequently Asked Questions

What to expect when testing at a Pearson Vue test centre

For a tutorial and to see what your live test will look like, please see sample test.

Contacts

If you have any issues or queries around booking a test visit here or you can contact PearsonVue directly on the number or email address below.

Telephone:– Ireland (freephone) : 1-800-800739 or
Email Safepasscustomersupport@pearson.com

For employers that wish to purchase vouchers for their employees please visit the PearsonVue Voucher Store  or go to Constructioncourses.ie and click on Vouchers.

If you have any queries relating to the purchase of vouchers

Email
PearsonVUEVoucherStore@pearson.com

If you have any issues registering for your SOLAS online account

Email sprenewals@solas.ie

Safepass is a mandatory one-day health and safety awareness programme.

The aim of the programme is to raise the standard of safety awareness in the construction industry and to ensure that, over time, all site personnel undergo basic health and safety awareness training to enable them to work onsite without being a risk to themselves or others who might be affected by their acts or omissions. Candidates who successfully complete the programme will receive a Safepass Registration Card.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, all construction workers in Ireland - including apprentices and trainees - are legally bound to hold a valid Safepass Registration Card.

Read more on Safepass Legislation here.

The Safepass Programme is delivered by SOLAS Approved Training Organisations and tutors. For a full list of Approved Training Organisations and further information on the programme content and fees, see Course Information:

Replacement Card

If your Safepass Registration Card has been lost, stolen or damaged you can apply for a replacement which costs €32. Safepass cards must be in date in order to be replaced. Replaced cards will have the same expiry date as lost/stolen/damaged cards.

Please complete the Online Replacement Card Form, attach a current passport-quality photograph and complete the online payment. Please remember to use a high-quality photo. Applications may be rejected if your photo is low quality.

Replacement cards are generally issued within two to three weeks of receipt of your fully completed replacement form and correct payment.

There's a step-by-step instructional video below on how to apply for a replacement card.

Más mian leat an t-iarratas a chomhlánú i nGaeilge, seol ríomhphost chuig csuinfo@solas.ie

Recognition of Equivalent Safety Schemes

Schedule 4 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 provides for the recognition of equivalent safety awareness schemes approved by SOLAS.

The Construction Skills Register (CSR Northern Ireland) one day health and safety course is the only course recognised by SOLAS as an equivalent to the SOLAS Safepass course. Any person wishing to avail of this recognition must be in possession of a current CSR Health and Safety card.