About HSENI

Promoting and enforcing health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for the Economy (DfE).

HSENI is the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland.

HSENI's mission

"Working with others, to reduce work-related serious injury and ill health in Northern Ireland."

Five key mission objectives

The mission will focus on:

  • preventing the most serious workplace health and safety issues;
  • high risk industries and activities;
  • sensible and proportionate risk management;
  • effective regulation; and
  • supporting businesses and the economy.

HSENI and local councils

Whilst HSENI is the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland, it shares this responsibility with the 11 local councils. 

Together, HSENI and the local councils cover all work situations in Northern Ireland that are subject to the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

HSENI's enforcement responsibilities

  • factories
  • building sites
  • farms
  • motor vehicle repairs
  • mines and quarries
  • chemical plants
  • schools and universities
  • leisure and entertainment facilities (owned by local councils)
  • fairgrounds 
  • hospitals and nursing homes
  • fire and police
  • government departments
  • railways
  • any other workplace not listed under local councils

Local councils' enforcement responsibilities

  • offices
  • retail and wholesale shops
  • tyre and exhaust fitters
  • restaurants, take away food shops, mobile snack bars and catering services
  • hotels, guest houses residential homes
  • wholesale and retail warehouses
  • leisure and entertainment facilities (privately owned)
  • exhibitions
  • religious activities
  • undertakers
  • the practice or presentation of the arts, sports, games, entertainment or other cultural or recreational activities
  • therapeutic and beauty services
  • animal care

Contact HSENI

Contact local councils

If you have a query about an area of employment for which local councils are responsible, you should contact the environmental health department of your local council.