With growing pressure on companies to mitigate risk and meet statutory obligations, Pat O Brien Safety Ltd has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading Health & Safety Solutions Providers by offering bespoke solutions that fit client needs.
Armed with a finely-tuned understanding that Health & Safety is not one-size-fits-all, Pat O’Brien Safety Ltd has grown its offering to include a large range of services under one roof. From consultancy and management support to training, safety products and maintenance, the family-run business has carved out a niche position as a tailored support service for companies looking for a one-stop-shop in health and safety.
Operating out of its headquarters in Ballymount with seven full-time staff and a roster of 30-40 contractors employed on a regular basis, Pat O Brien Safety Ltd has built up a loyal customer base within a relatively short time frame, solidifying itself as a trusted centre of excellence for existing and new customers.
A bespoke solution to fit specific needs:
Established in 2011, Pat O Brien Safety Ltd launched in the midst of a recession when purse strings were tight and budgets for training and consultancy nominal. Despite this, the company persevered by expanding its catalogue of training courses as well as its product range.
Today, change remains very much at the core of the business with Colm O’Brien now stepping into the role of Managing Director while his father and founder, Pat O’Brien, takes a step back. Having joined his father in 2020, the last few years have been spent bridging old-school expertise with modern insights to build a business with innovation and trust at its core.
An engineer by trade, Colm has an insight into his clients’ world; one he says has proven invaluable in allowing him to understand and anticipate their needs.
“The world of Health & Safety is constantly evolving – regulations are changing, goalposts are shifting – so it makes sense that we operate ahead of the curve, so our clients are in the best possible position to adapt. For large-scale companies, it can be a minefield. Essentially, we’re here to cut through the noise, to streamline and to simplify so they can focus on business as usual,” he says.
As part of its mission to make life easier for customers, Pat O Brien Safety Ltd currently offers over 150 certified safety-training courses across a wide range of specialist areas. Delivered in a number of languages (Polish, Romanian & Russian) to cater for an increasingly diverse labour market in Ireland and abroad, courses include Abrasive Wheel, First Aid, Manual Handling, Working at Height, Machinery/equipment, Fire Extinguisher Awareness and Fire Warden plus many more.
“We’ve placed a huge focus on developing the education and awareness arm of the business. It’s a huge part of what we do and not only is it about empowering staff with the knowledge and confidence they need to perform their work in the safest possible way, it’s about safeguarding reputation and profit.
“Now, more than ever, there is a greater demand and expectation for companies to comply with complex regulations and we’re here to deliver the most appropriate and cost-effective solution. We work to accommodate client goals, timeframes and budgets.”
While Pat O’Brien may be taking a step back, his philosophy of continuous improvement – an ethos picked up from time spent in Japan – continues to drive the operation forward.
“As the landscape grows more complex, we understand that some issues are not clean-cut and require further support, which is why we’ve built a comprehensive portfolio of consultancy services. We’ve developed an extensive network that allows us to connect clients with the expertise they need when they need it. We also provide instructor courses to support management training which can be carried out either on site or externally,” Colm adds.
Safety Consultancy services provided include Health & Safety Consultancy; Accident Investigation; Method Statements; PSCS/PSDP Safety Planning; Risk Assessment Analysis; Safety Auditing and Inspection; and Safety Officer Support.
In addition to training and consultancy, Pat O Brien Safety Ltd has emerged as a leading supplier of safety equipment and has seen an increase in passing trade to its headquarters. In addition to Personalised Laser Printed ID inspection tags with logos, the team also supply specialised products, including safety tagging systems, Lock Out Tag Out Equipment, Working at Height Equipment and much more. You can download the full brochure at www.patobriensafety.com or view more on its online shop.
Looking forward to a bright future, Colm is confident that continued growth is on the cards for Ireland’s most innovative and progressive safety management provider with continued plans to support customers across construction, logistics, manufacturing, mechanical and electrical, health service and many more.
“We grow by a consistent 20% each year and we would foresee similar growth this year and into next year,” he concludes.
Colm would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his staff and consultancy contractors for their dedication and expertise.
Pat O Brien Safety Ltd
No. 9 Robinhood Road,
Dublin 22,
(Eircode D22 DT29).
Tel: 01 456 9415
Mobile: 086 157 0826
Email: [email protected]
Web: www. patobriensafety.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March 2025, Vol 11 No 3
