HSENI campaign on moving equipment safety for the construction sector

Construction deaths prompt latest all-island campaign to keep people safe from moving machinery

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), in partnership with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), is running an all-island ‘People - Plant - Safe Separation Campaign’ from 7 - 18 September 2026. 

During this campaign, inspectors are urging construction employers, contractors, plant operators and workers to take action to prevent people coming into contact with moving vehicles and machinery such as excavators, dumpers, telehandlers and forklifts. 

Between 2016 and 2025, 25 people lost their lives in construction-related incidents involving plant, machinery or vehicles across the island of Ireland, prompting this campaign to improve safety around moving equipment. 

Every year workers are injured or killed in incidents that could have been prevented through effective traffic management, competent plant operation and adequate maintenance of plant and machinery. 

Continued tragic fatalities point out the continued need for employers, contractors, plant operators and workers to ensure robust control measures are in place wherever people and plant interact in the same environment. 

Campaign details 

During the campaign, duty holders will be encouraged to review traffic management plans, ensure plant operators are appropriately trained and competent, maintain safe exclusion zones and implement effective communication systems between workers and operators. 

As well as focusing on the safe operation of plant and machinery, HSENI will issue promotional material, and awareness-raising activities will also be carried out to encourage improved safety standards across the construction sector. Read more on the campaign. 

While the campaign runs for two weeks, the HSENI and HSA emphasise that preventing incidents involving plant and machinery requires a sustained commitment throughout the year. 

Read more on workplace transport safety. 

First published 8 September 2026