| Health and Safety Work within the district is aimed at ensuring the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and others who 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.
In order to reduce accidents and ill health Councils' Environmental Health Officers in conjunction with Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) safety inspectors undertake workplace inspections and provide advice and assistance to business owners, employees and members of the public.
Who Enforces Health and Safety Legislation?
District Councils and HSENI are both involved in improving standards in health and safety but within different sectors. A breakdown is given below:
Fermanagh District Council HSENI
Wholesale Manufacturing
Retail Construction
Catering Services Government Property
Residential Accommodation Mines and Quarries
Leisure & Cultural Agriculture
Consumer Services Schools and Universities
Offices Transport
Health and Safety Registration
Premises can register with the Council by downloading and completing the document and posting it to the Environmental Health Department.
Registration Form for Health & Safety Premises
The following small business Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Request for Information Form can be a useful health and safety tool to determine how well your business is doing and can help you identify the guidance which is appropriate for your business. Click here to download Self Assessment Questionnaire and Request for Information form which when completed can be posted to the Environmental Health Department.
Fermanagh District Council's health and safety team will:
- Provide information and advice to all about Health and Safety issues
- Inspect workplaces
- Investigate and deal with complaints about unsafe working conditions or practices
- Investigate accidents at work
Enforcement Policy
This policy sets out the principles which will enable the officers of the Council's Environmental Department to provide an effective and fair service, and to ensure consistent and open enforcement. It is written for the guidance of the Council and its Officers and will be made available to any business representatives or members of the public who enquire about our Policies and Procedures. It applies to all dealings whether formal or informal between businesses, members of the public and offices of the Council in regard to Environmetnal Health matters.
Download Health and Safety Enforcement and Prosecution Policy in PDF Format 
What to expect when a Health and Safety Inspector calls
Download a brief guide for businesses, employees and their representatives on what to expect during an inspection in PDF Format.

A campaign has been launched aimed at promoting safety awareness when carrying out workplace maintenance tasks. Too often repairing, fixing, cleaning buildings, plant or machinery can lead to needless death or injury. The campaign's message is that safe maintenance:
- Saves time- good preventative maintenance keeps the working environment and buildings safe and keeps machinery reliable. Inadequate maintenance leads to time consuming faults.
- Saves money- maintenance is critical to ensure continuous productivity.
Saves lives- one in three workplace fatalities are related to maintenance. Maintenance is a high risk activity and maintenance workers are more likely to be exposed to a range of hazards.
Particular emphasis is being placed on key hazards asbestos, working at height, isolation of equipment. For further information visit the HSENI website http://safemaintenance.hseni.gov.uk/.
CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, highly toxic gas which is created when fossil fuels such as gas, coal, oil and wood fail to combust correctly i.e. due to a lack of oxygen. If the appliances which burn fossil fuels are not installed, maintained, and used properly, CO may accumulate to dangerous and even deadly levels in homes, caravans, tents or poorly ventilated areas. You can’t see CO, taste it or smell it, therefore it can kill quickly with no warning.
ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a naturally occurring soft mineral rock that consists of tiny fibres. From the 1950s, Asbestos was used extensively in the construction and refurbishment of buildings. Although it is now illegal to use asbestos for these purposes much of it is still in place, particularly in those premises constructed or refurbished before 1985. Breathing in air that contains asbestos fibres can lead to serious lung and chest conditions. It is, therefore important to find out if asbestos is present before embarking on any maintenance work that could disturb it.
Small Business Guide to Managing Health and Safety provides step by step advice on how to manage health and safety and includes information on risk assessments and developing a safety policy. It should be read in conjunction with the information sheets below which give specific advice for the following types of business. To assist you in carrying out a risk assessment you can download a blank risk assessment form (see list below).
The Protect Your Profit information
Information Sheets are also available for specific work areas:
Carbon monoxide Poisoning
Are you at risk? Are you having headaches, having difficulty thinking clearly or feeling tired or sick? Have you had your heating and cooking appliances checked recently? Find out about the risks of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and how to avoid them – it could save your life.
Click here to download an information leaflet in PDF format from the NHS on Carbon monoxide poisoning and how to recognise the danger signs.
Report of an Injury or Dangerous Occurence
Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement, if there is an accident connected with work and
- Your employee, or a self employed person working in your premises is killed or suffers a major injury or,
- A member of the public is killed or taken to hospital
You must notify the enforcing authority without delay (eg telephone). Within ten days you must follow this up on a completed accident report form NI2508.
If your query relates to a business sector which HSENI deals with, you can contact the HSENI at:
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
83 Ladas Drive
Belfast
BT6 9FR
Tel: 028 9024 3249
Fax: 028 9023 5383
E-mail: hseni@detini.gov.uk
Website: http://www.hseni.gov.uk/
Click here to make an online request to have a Health and Safety Advisory visit.
Training
The following Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Courses are available:
- CIEH Principles of Manual Handling
Enables employees to contribute to the development of safer manual handling methods and tasks
- CIEH Level 2 Award in the Principles of COSHH
Prepares employees to contribute to the safer use of hazardous substances
- CIEH Certificate in Stress Awareness
Introduction to the issue of work-related stress
- CIEH Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace
New and completely revised qualification
- CIEH Level 2 Award in Hygiene in Health and Social Care
Provides employees with an introduction to hygiene hazards and how to control them
- CIEH Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in Health and Social Care
Provides employees with a good understanding and Knowledge of health and safety in the health and social care setting
- CIEH Level 2 Award in Conflict Resolution and Personal Safety
Helps organisations protect their staff as well as their organisational and operational effectiveness
- CIEH Intermediate Certificate in Supervising Health and Safety
Examines health and safety from a supervisory perspective
- CIEH Level 3 Award in Risk Assessment Principles and Practice
Enables supervisors and managers to carry out risk assessments
- Risk Assessment Principles and Practice (Swimming Pools)
Raises awareness of Key risk areas in a swimming pool environment; supplements CIEH Certificate in Risk Assessment Principles and Practice
- CIEH Advanced Certificate in Health & Safety in the Workplace
Enables managers, supervisors and senior safety personnel to manage health and safety in most workplaces
The Council, on demand, will also organise the following FREE briefing sessions:
An Introduction to Health and Safety in Offices.
Health and Safety and the Smaller Business.
Introduction to Risk Assessment
If interested in any of the above courses, contact the Environmental Health Department at envhealth@fermanagh.gov.uk, telephone 028 6632 1805, fax 028 6632 9081
Useful Health and Safety Links
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)
Health and Safety Executive (Great Britain)
Health and Safety Authority (Republic of Ireland)
Health and Safety Executive - How do I carry out a risk assessment?
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Business Link
Fermanagh District Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. If you find a problem with any internet link please notify the IT Department by email at it@fermanagh.gov.uk or contact the IT Department at the Townhall on 028 6632 5050
If you require any further information, please contact:
Gerry Tierney
Senior Environmental Health Officer
envhealth@fermanagh.gov.uk
Telephone 028 6632 1805 Fax 028 6632 9081
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