The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is the leading representative body for construction companies in Ireland. It plays a central role in shaping industry standards, lobbying for better practices, and driving initiatives that safeguard workers on sites across the country. With thousands of members, the CIF represents a wide spectrum of the sector – from small contractors to the largest building firms – all working together towards safer, more productive workplaces.
About Construction Safety Week
Each year, the CIF organises Construction Safety Week, a national campaign designed to raise awareness of the critical importance of safety, health, and wellbeing in the industry. The initiative brings contractors, suppliers, and service providers together in a united effort to reinforce a “safety-first” culture on construction sites.Every Safety Week has key daily themes, covering areas such as:
By focusing attention on these issues, the CIF provides practical guidance and resources that encourage employers and workers alike to take proactive steps in preventing accidents and protecting lives.
As Ireland’s leading supplier and service provider of lifting, material handling, and height safety equipment, Prolift Handling is proud to support CIF’s Construction Safety Week. Safety is not just part of our business – it is at the very heart of what we do.
This year, we are actively contributing to the campaign by offering free training courses and live equipment demonstrations dedicated to lifting and height safety. Our goal is to help reinforce industry knowledge, provide hands-on experience with certified equipment, and highlight best practices that can reduce risks on site.
By aligning our efforts with CIF’s national campaign, we aim to make a tangible difference in supporting safer working environments across Ireland’s construction sector.
Accidents involving lifting operations and working at height remain among the most serious hazards in construction. Falls, dropped loads, or improper use of lifting gear can have devastating consequences. The key to prevention is competence – workers must not only have the right equipment but also the knowledge and confidence to use it correctly.
At Prolift, we believe that training transforms equipment from a tool into a lifesaving asset. That is why our contribution to Construction Safety Week focuses on giving participants the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts, engage with the latest safety solutions, and ask questions in a practical, interactive setting.
For Construction Safety Week, Prolift is offering tailored training courses and demonstrations covering the following areas:
Participants will be guided through the correct selection, inspection, and use of lifting gear, including chain slings, hoists, shackles, and more. Key learning points include:
Pre-use checks and GA1 inspection requirements
Understanding load limits and working load limits (WLLs)
Correct rigging practices to prevent side-loading and overload
How to identify wear, damage, or faults before they cause accidents
Falls from height are a leading cause of workplace fatalities. Our sessions cover:
Correct use of harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points
Demonstrations of fall arrest vs restraint systems
The importance of rescue planning in height work
Daily inspection and storage practices for PPE
Our team will conduct live demonstrations of equipment from trusted suppliers such as Pewag, Kratos, and Invicta. Attendees will see first-hand:
How chain sling systems are assembled and inspected
The function of innovative safety features in modern hoists
Practical examples of equipment in simulated site conditions
These demos are designed to give workers a stronger visual understanding of how equipment should be handled, reducing the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.
Each course and demo includes time for workers, supervisors, and safety managers to ask specific questions about their site operations. Our experts will provide advice tailored to different project types, whether in high-rise construction, civil works, or fit-out projects.
This year, the CIF Safety Campaign runs from 13th to 24th October 2025, in partnership with Spinal Injuries Ireland. The central message is deceptively simple but vitally important: go back to basics.
CIF is asking all companies across the construction sector to pause, reflect, and re-examine their safety management systems. The focus is on conversations – real, honest discussions between employers and their teams that reveal risks, share feedback, and build stronger safety cultures.
Under the Back to Basics theme, five key sub-themes have been identified to guide companies’ initiatives across the two-week campaign:
13th October – Leadership in Safety
15th October – Utilities
17th October – Developing the Next Generation
21st October – Critical Risks
23rd October – Falls from Height
Each theme encourages companies to hold toolbox talks, safety briefings, external speaker sessions, or “step-down” moments where work pauses to reflect on lessons learned. The objective is clear: use the tools already available, but apply them consistently and openly, so that safety becomes second nature on every site.
To support CIF’s daily safety topics, our training also ties into wider campaign messages:
Working at Height: Our height safety sessions directly reinforce safe access and fall prevention practices.
Mental Health & Wellbeing: We stress that proper training reduces stress and anxiety on site, giving workers the reassurance that they are competent and supported.
Safe Equipment Use: Our lifting courses highlight compliance with LOLER and GA1 standards, ensuring companies meet legal and safety requirements.
By engaging with our courses and demos during Construction Safety Week, participants and companies benefit from:
Improved compliance: Meet inspection and training obligations under Irish safety regulations.
Reduced risk: Fewer incidents caused by misuse of lifting or height safety gear.
Stronger culture: Reinforcing CIF’s message that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Practical knowledge: Workers gain confidence in handling real equipment, not just theory.
At Prolift Handling, we recognise that safety cannot be achieved by one organisation alone. It requires a collective effort – from CIF’s national leadership, to suppliers like ourselves, to every contractor and worker on the ground. By joining forces during Construction Safety Week, the entire industry takes a step forward in protecting lives and raising standards.
With offices in Dublin and Cork, Prolift Handling has been serving the Irish market for over 12 years. We are proud to be the exclusive distributor for leading safety brands such as Pewag and to partner with a wide network of trusted suppliers. Our services extend beyond supplying equipment – we also provide inspections, training, and tailored solutions for lifting and safety challenges in construction and industry.
Construction Safety Week is a highlight in the safety calendar, but its lessons extend far beyond one week in the year. Prolift Handling remains committed to supporting contractors with ongoing training, equipment supply, and inspection services that keep sites safe all year round.
As CIF continues to drive awareness through its campaigns, we will continue to align with these efforts – ensuring that every worker goes home safe, every day.