Health and Safety at Work is primarily concerned with the prevention of injury and disease to people at work and those who visit the workplace. Legal responsibilities are placed on employers, self-employed persons and employees. Legal responsibilities are also placed on manufacturers of equipment as well as those who fit and maintain it.

In Northern Ireland, Local Councils employ Environmental Health Officers who are responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and other Subsidiary Regulations in Council enforced premises.

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and Local Councils share the enforcement responsibility for a range of different premises throughout Northern Ireland. Below is a link for the “Enforcing Authority List” to help you to determine whether your Enforcing Authority is the Council or HSENI.

Enforcing Authority List

Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998 A-Z guide allocation

Overview:

Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI)

HSENI is responsible for enforcing health and safety at workplaces including:

• factories
• farms
• building sites
• mines
• schools and colleges
• fairgrounds
• gas, electricity and water systems
• hospitals and nursing homes
• central and local government premises
• offshore installations

Council

The Local Council is responsible for enforcing health and safety at workplaces including:

• offices (except government offices)
• shops
• hotels
• restaurants
• leisure premises
• nurseries and playgroups
• pubs and clubs
• museums (privately owned)
• places of worship
• residential care homes

Environmental Health Officers deal with three key areas- advice, training and enforcement. Staff will visit businesses, discuss any area of concern and provide guidance and information to help them comply with the law.  

This guidance booklet explains What to do when an inspector calls?

Enforcement

In terms of enforcement, Environmental Health Officers will routinely visit business premises to check standards and assess the approach to managing health and safety. Complaints and accidents will be investigated and where necessary formal action will be taken i.e. Improvement Notice and Prohibition Notices will be issued or in certain cases offenders will be prosecuted.

Complaints

Complaints relating to dangerous working practices or unsatisfactory conditions at work are also investigated. Enquiries by employers, employees and members of the public regarding workplace health and safety will be investigated by the health and safety team.

Detailed guidance on the various aspects of health and safety can be found below: