Getting started

Site topics: Getting started

Good practice in health and safety is good for your business – and it's the law. Managing health and safety can be a little daunting at first, but introducing practices that keep people safe doesn’t have to be complicated and your business will not only be safer, it will be one that can develop and thrive well into the future. HSENI is here to save you time and effort with online advice, useful resources to download and access to our free and confidential health and safety advisory and information services.

Duties

All employers in Northern Ireland have a legal duty to:

make the workplace safe and eliminate or control risks to health
ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed
ensure articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely
provide adequate welfare facilities
give workers the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for their health and safety
consult workers on health and safety matters

Getting started

To start with you will need to think about the following:

health and safety policy
risk assessment
information to display
business start-up pack

Resources

Health and Safety Law in Northern Ireland Employee Pocketcard - available to order from the HSE (GB) website
Health and Safety Law in Northern Ireland Poster - available to order from the HSE (GB) website
HSENI Leaflet - Employer’s Liability (Defective Equipment and Compulsory Insurance) (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 - A Guide For Employees
INDG 417 Leading Health and Safety at Work - HSE (GB) website
Managing shift-work: Health and safety guidance (HSG256) - HSE (GB) website
The Working Time Regulations - HSE (GB) website
Working time limits (the 48-hour week) - NI Direct website
Working Time Regulations - The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) website

Key legislation

Please note that these links are to the original legislation, visitors should verify for themselves whether legislation is in force or whether it has been amended or repealed by subsequent legislation.