The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 is the primary piece of legislation covering work-related health and safety in Northern Ireland. It sets out a lot of the employer's responsibilities for health and safety at work. Under this legislation, employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees and any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public. As well as these duties, there are regulations to deal with particular hazards and for industries where hazards are particularly high, such as lead, asbestos, chemicals, construction work, and gas safety.

Your employer has a "duty of care" to make sure, as far as possible, your health, safety and welfare while you're at work. They should start with a risk assessment to spot possible health and safety hazards.

They have to appoint a "competent person" with health and safety responsibilities usually one of the owners in smaller firms, or a member of staff trained in health and safety.

For businesses employing five or more people, there must also be:

• an official record of what the risk assessment finds and what has been implemented to reduce the risks
• a formal health and safety policy which includes arrangements to protect your health and safety (you should be told what these are)

All employers, whatever the size of the business, must:

• make the workplace safe
• prevent risks to health
• make sure that plant and machinery are safe to use
• make sure safe working practices are set up and followed
• make sure that all materials are handled, stored and used safely
• provide adequate first-aid facilities
• tell you about any potential hazards from the work you do - chemicals and other substances used by the firm - and give you information, instructions, training and supervision as needed
• set up emergency plans
• make sure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet health, safety and welfare requirements
• check that the right work equipment is provided and is properly used and regularly maintained
• prevent or control exposure to substances that may damage your health
• take precautions against the risks caused by flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise and radiation
• avoid potentially dangerous work involving manual handling (and if it can't be avoided, take precautions to reduce the risk of injury)
• provide health supervision as needed
• provide protective clothing or equipment free of charge (if risks can't be removed or adequately controlled by any other means)
• make sure that the right warning signs are provided and looked after
• report certain accidents, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to either the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland or the local authority, depending on the type of business

So that the work premises provide a safe and healthy place to work, your employer should:

• make sure that is properly ventilated, with clean and fresh air
• keep temperatures at a comfortable level (a minimum of 13 degrees Centigrade where the work involves physical activity; 16 degrees Centigrade for offices - there's no maximum limit)
• light premises so that employees can work and move about safely
• keep the workplace and equipment clean
• make sure that areas are big enough to allow easy movement (at least 11 cubic meters per person)
• provide workstations to suit the employees and the work
• keep the equipment in good working order
• make floors, walkways, stairs, and roadways safe to use
• protect people from falling from heights or into dangerous substances
• store things so they're unlikely to fall and cause injuries
• fit openable windows, doors and gates with safety devices if needed
• provide suitable washing facilities and clean drinking water
• if necessary, provide somewhere for employees to get changed and to store their own clothes
• set aside areas for rest breaks and to eat meals, including suitable facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers
• let employees take appropriate rest breaks and the right holiday entitlement
• make sure that employees who work alone, or off-site, can do so safely and healthily

There is a legal obligation to report certain types of the incident in the workplace to the relevant authorities. Employers, self-employed people, and people in control of premises have a legal duty to report the following:

• work-related deaths
• major injuries or over-three-day injuries
• work-related diseases
• dangerous occurrences (near miss accidents)

OH&S Risk Assessments

Policies and Procedures

Emergency Plans

PPE

Training and Awareness