The work of the Health & Safety Team within the Borough is aimed at ensuring the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and others that may be affected by work activities. Workplace accidents and ill health are common in Northern Ireland and can cost businesses in terms of absence, rising insurance premiums, civil claims etc.
Council Environmental Health Officers aim to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of employees and others against risks arising from work activities through:
- Inspection of workplaces
- Investigation of accidents
- Investigation of complaints regarding working conditions or practices
- Providing an information and advisory service to businesses
- Providing health and safety training
- Promoting health and safety in the workplace
In Northern Ireland both District Councils and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) are responsible for enforcing health and safety law in different sectors. A breakdown can be found below:
District Council
- Service Sector Businesses
- Retail outlets
- Wholesale outlets
- Offices
- Restaurants
- Residential Homes
- Places of entertainment
- Recreation facilities
HSENI
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Government property
- Mines and Quarries
- Chemical plants
- Agriculture
- Schools and Universities
- Transport
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
Useful Websites
http://www.hseni.gov.uk/ Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
http://www.hse.gov.uk/ Health and Safety Executive Great Britain
http://www.osha.europa.eu/ European Agency for Safety and Health at Work