Something which come up regularly in discussion and in particularly in the film industry there appears to be a lot of confusion who actually requires a safe pass. If your are directly involved in construction activities then yes, if you are not directly involved then you don’t.
To assist production managers, construction managers, production designers and project managers I put together this document containing information which is all available on the Health and Safety Authority’s website.
I amazed to hear of Production Designers, Art Directors, Prop Buyers sent on Safe Pass courses, even Construction Managers do not require a safe pass (if not directly involved on the project)
Who needs to do Safe Pass awareness training?
Safe Pass is a one-day safety awareness programme aimed at general construction workers, craft workers and “on site” security personnel in the construction industry. The aims of the programme are to:
- Raise the standard of safety awareness in the construction industry
- Ensure that site personnel after completing the one day awareness programme can make a positive contribution to the prevention of accidents and ill health while working on the site
- Maintain a register of personnel who have received training
- Provide participants with a FAS Safe Pass registration card, indicating that the holder has attended a formal course in health and safety awareness
Under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 Safe Pass / Safety Awareness Programmes applies to –
(a) Craft and general construction workers,
(b) Persons undertaking on-site security work, and
(c) Persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the Minister.
The Health and Safety Authority in conjunction with the Construction Advisory Committee have produced a summary of the categories of persons to whom Safe Pass does and does not apply.
Tom Dowling has a degree in project management and is qualified in ‘management safety in construction’.
Summary checklist for Safe Pass
| Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects | Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory | Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects | Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory |
| Craft Workers |
Yes |
Project Managers/Site Agents not involved in construction activities |
No |
| Apprentices |
Yes |
Site Managers not involved in construction activities |
No |
| General Construction Workers |
Yes |
Safety Advisor’s or Safety Officers not involved in construction work |
No |
| Working Chargehands |
Yes |
||
| On-site Security Workers |
Yes |
* PSDS/PSCS |
No |
| Contractors Drivers On-site |
Yes |
Inspectors/Consultants |
No |
| Delivery Drivers On-site e.g. concrete trucks |
Yes |
Clients & Client Reps |
No |
| Students on Placement on site |
Yes |
||
| Delivery Drivers Not On-site e.g. delivering to compounds, canteens, offices |
No |
Supervised Visitors |
No |
| Canteen Staff |
No |
Archaeologists |
No |
| Site Office Staff |
No |
Sales Representatives |
No |
| Architects, Surveyors, Engineers |
No |
Visitors to Show Houses |
No |
Categories: Film and TV, Project Management
Tom Dowling 
Hmm…great post! I just learned a lot from your one blog as opposed to loads of things in school! Great to know!
Edited (Dec 2014), A query was asked back in 2010 edited complete. If you are a dolly grip it’s very simple you do not work in construction, so the answer is No a safe pass is not required. It really amazes me how many people I have heard on recent productions have been sent on a safe pass course, particularly art directors and designers, in fact a construction manager does not require a safe pass, It’s a misuse of time and production resources the only winners here are the instructors who are quite happy to take the money now that there is very little happening in construction. As regards the second part of your question I have spoken to some union members who feel that grips meed safe passes, officially the unions will say it not true. And finally why is there is no crew list for all crew working in the film Industry, I was told by Screen Producers Ireland that the unions were not in favour of it as it would breach “data protection” personally I think most crew members would be very happy to be part of a data base. Unfortunately SPI are not that serious about doing so they are quite happy to go along with line the unions are blocking it.
Have you as a dolly grip been told you need to have a safe pass, and if so at what level in production was that demand coming from?