An enforcement initiative is taking place which specifically focuses on health surveillance for the manufacturing sector
As part of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) Workplace Health Campaign 2025/26, an enforcement initiative has been launched by the Manufacturing Team specifically focusing on health surveillance.
As part of this initiative, the team is visiting manufacturing and engineering companies to conduct focused inspections, which is in response to HSENI figures which recently revealed more than 350 people in Northern Ireland die annually due to work-related disease.
What will be inspected?
Companies will be visited by HSENI Inspectors who will
- examine what health hazards are present in the workplace which require health surveillance (for example, hazardous substances, noise and vibration)
- check that control measures which are in place to prevent exposure to workers are relevant and adequate
- expect companies to have a Health Surveillance Scheme in place where their risk assessment identifies a need for one
- explore the components of the Health Surveillance Scheme in place and suitability of the Occupational Health Provider involved in setting it up
- check how the Health Surveillance Scheme is being managed
Where inspectors find the above requirements are not in place, enforcement action, in the form of Improvement and Prohibition Notices, may be issued.
Checklist for companies
In preparation for the inspections, manufacturing and engineering companies are advised to use the following checklist to assess their current management of health surveillance.
They must ensure that
- a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for health surveillance has been prepared and is available
- health surveillance is in place where the risk assessment identifies the legal requirement in the workplace
- the services of a competent Occupational Health Provider are used to help implement and manage a Health Surveillance Scheme including results of surveillance are being acted on accordingly
- employees are aware of health risks associated with their work activities and understand what action to take if they notice signs or symptoms of ill-health
Find out more about the HSENI Health Surveillance Initiative.
First published 15 April 2025
