- Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, all construction workers, including apprentices and trainees, must hold a valid Safe Pass card.
- The card is issued about five working days after the tutor uploads your results, and lasts four years.
- A replacement costs €32, with the same expiry date as the lost card.
- Renewal: a 45-minute, 50-question computer test costing €93.84, or the full-day classroom course.
How a real card comes about
- You attend a course run by a tutor or organisation approved by SOLAS. Before you start, you can check that your tutor is on the SOLAS register.
- You complete the programme. The assessment is multiple choice, and the tutor reads each question twice.
- The tutor uploads your results to the National Construction Scheme Database.
- The card is issued to the tutor, about five working days later, who is responsible for getting it to you.
That chain is the reason a card cannot be "arranged" without a course. SOLAS issues it from a database entry that only an approved tutor can create. If you have finished a course and no card has arrived, SOLAS tells you to contact the tutor who delivered it.
What the law says
Citizens Information states that employers must make sure employees on construction sites carry Safe Pass cards, that it is illegal to forge or alter a registration card or to make any other card that resembles one, and that it is illegal to give SOLAS false information. We did not find the underlying statutory wording on the SOLAS site, so we do not quote a penalty.
What we could and could not find
| Question | Finding |
|---|---|
| Documented Irish prosecution for fake Safe Pass cards | None found in our research |
| Official online card checker | None found on the SOLAS page we read. Its FAQ describes only a confirmation letter, issued with a replacement application |
| Sellers advertising cards without a course | We did not verify any, and name or link to none |
So this page is mostly the lawful route. We would rather say that than invent a case.
Cost and renewal
- Course fee: charged by the tutor, covering the training and the card administration. SOLAS does not publish a single price on the page we read.
- Who pays: generally your employer. The 2005 Act requires employers to allow paid time off for safety awareness training.
- If unemployed with a job offer: your local Intreo centre may help with the fee.
- Replacement: €32, online form with a passport-quality photo. Replacement cards generally arrive within two to three weeks, and the card must be in date to be replaced.
- Renewal: the computer test or the course.
Equivalent card
SOLAS recognises the CSR (Northern Ireland) one-day health and safety course as equivalent, for people with a current CSR Health and Safety card. No other course is recognised as equivalent.
Warning signs
- A seller who will provide a card without a day's course.
- A tutor who does not appear on the SOLAS approved register.
- A request for photos of your passport or Public Services Card by chat.
- A card that arrives from anyone other than your tutor or SOLAS.
If you have paid someone, read what to do now. For other documents, see the documents hub and official checks.
The course day
SOLAS describes the assessment as a multiple-choice test rather than a written one: the tutor reads each question twice and candidates tick an answer. The only writing is the card application form, which asks for your name, address, PPS number, phone number and signature. If you need help with spelling on that form, ask your tutor.
If the card is late
SOLAS says the card is issued to your tutor about five working days after results are uploaded, and errors or queries about the information can delay it. If you have finished the course and no card has arrived, contact the tutor who delivered it, because the tutor is responsible for getting it to you and the card cost was included in your course fee.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Safe Pass card to work on a building site in Ireland?
Yes. Under the 2013 Construction Regulations all construction workers, including apprentices and trainees, are legally bound to hold a valid Safe Pass card, according to SOLAS.
How long does a Safe Pass card last?
Four years, after which the holder must update their training. A renewal can be a 45-minute computer test or the full-day course.
How much does a replacement Safe Pass card cost?
€32, according to SOLAS. The card must be in date, and the replacement keeps the same expiry date.
Is it illegal to fake a Safe Pass card?
Citizens Information says it is illegal to forge or alter a registration card, or to make any other card that resembles one.
How do I know a Safe Pass tutor is genuine?
SOLAS says you can check on the Safe Pass Accredited Tutors register, and gives the constructioncourses.ie published courses page.