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What are my duties as a client under health and safety law?

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, a homeowner having construction work done is a client with duties to appoint competent designers and contractors and, where required, a project supervisor for design process and for construction stage.

For most house builds you must appoint a Project Supervisor Design Process and a Project Supervisor Construction Stage in writing, and be satisfied that both are competent and adequately resourced. The appointments should be made before design work and before construction respectively.

Where the work will last longer than 30 working days or exceed 500 person-days, the PSCS must notify the Health and Safety Authority using form AF2, and a safety file must be handed to you at the end.

Client checklist

  • Appoint PSDP and PSCS in writing
  • Keep evidence of competence checks
  • Confirm HSA notification where thresholds are met
  • Retain the safety file for the life of the building

Sources

Last reviewed 28 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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