Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland facts for kids
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is an important organisation in Northern Ireland. It works to make sure that workplaces are safe and healthy for everyone. Think of it as a special government agency that helps protect people while they are doing their jobs.
The HSENI is similar to the Health and Safety Executive that looks after safety in the rest of the United Kingdom. About 105 people work for the HSENI. They are all dedicated to keeping workers safe.
What Does the HSENI Do?
The HSENI has a big job: making sure people stay safe and healthy at work. This is called occupational health and safety. They do this in a few ways:
- Encouragement: They help businesses understand how to keep their workplaces safe. They give advice and information.
- Regulation: They create rules and guidelines for safety. These rules help businesses know what they need to do.
- Enforcement: They check that businesses are following the safety rules. If a workplace is not safe, the HSENI can take action to fix it. This might mean giving warnings or making sure changes happen.
Their main goal is to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses that can happen at work.
How the HSENI Started
The HSENI was first created in 1978. Back then, it was called the Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland. It was set up when new safety laws, from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, were brought into Northern Ireland.
Later, in 1998, its name was changed to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. This new name showed its role as a key executive body for safety.
Working with Other Safety Groups
The HSENI also works with other organisations to improve safety. For example, it has partnered with the main Health and Safety Executive in the UK. Together, they helped create the Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register (OSHCR).
The OSHCR is a list of expert health and safety advisors. Businesses and employers can use this list to find qualified people. These experts can help them make their workplaces even safer. This partnership helps make sure that businesses have access to the best safety advice.
