Meantóir has been receiving requests to develop a Safety Statement for Early Childhood Services. Please be aware, that you can develop this resource online for FREE, save it and print it out. It’s a little time consuming but it is a straightforward process and provides you with what you need for Tusla Inspection. Just follow the steps below and share with your colleagues:

Developing your Safety Statement

  1. Go to the website www.besmart.ie . This is a free online tool that will guide you through the entire risk assessment process, using simple language and easy-to-follow instructions.
  2. All you have to do is register, select your business type (Crèche, Pre-school etc) and then work your way through a series of simple questions about the hazards in your workplace, answering ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not applicable’.
  3. When you have completed the process, you will have a workplace-specific safety statement that can be downloaded, edited, printed and implemented in your workplace. It’s that easy and its free!(You will need about 25 minutes to work your way through the process and the final document is over 50 pages – so make sure you have plenty of paper.)

Why do you need a Safety Statement for your Early Childhood Service?

The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 S.I No 21 of 2016: Regulation 6 requires a service to have a Safety Statement. The Safety Statement required is as defined within the meaning of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

The Safety Statement, which includes your Health and Safety Policy, will sit among your Tusla Policies under Section 1: Governance.