Frequently Asked Health & Safety Questions

Consult CPK provides practical health and safety, fire safety and workplace training support to businesses and organisations across Northern Ireland. Below, we answer some of the most common questions asked by employers, directors, managers, landlords and responsible persons.

If your question is not covered, contact Consult CPK for advice tailored to your workplace.

General Health and Safety

Employers in Northern Ireland must take reasonably practicable steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their work.

This normally includes:

  • Identifying workplace hazards
  • Completing suitable risk assessments
  • Introducing appropriate control measures
  • Providing information, instruction and training
  • Maintaining safe equipment and working practices
  • Consulting employees about health and safety
  • Reviewing arrangements when circumstances change

Consult CPK can assess your current arrangements and help you develop a practical health and safety management system.

Yes. Employers must appoint a competent person to help them meet their health and safety duties. This can be the employer, a suitably experienced employee or an external consultant.

The person must have the knowledge, skills, experience and ability required for the risks involved. Businesses with complex activities or limited in-house expertise may benefit from appointing an external adviser.

Consult CPK provides Competent Person services to organisations throughout Northern Ireland. Read HSENI’s guidance on appointing a competent person.

A small, low-risk business may be able to manage straightforward health and safety matters internally. However, the person responsible must still have sufficient knowledge and experience to do so competently.

External support may be appropriate if the organisation:

  • Carries out higher-risk work
  • Employs contractors
  • Operates from several locations
  • Does not have experienced internal staff
  • Has received an enforcement notice or complaint
  • Is applying for contracts or accreditations
  • Needs specialist documentation

Consult CPK can provide one-off assistance or ongoing support according to the size and risk profile of the business.

The documents required will depend on the organisation, but they commonly include:

  • A health and safety policy
  • General and activity-specific risk assessments
  • Fire risk assessment
  • COSHH assessments
  • RAMS
    Standard operating procedures
    Emergency procedures
  • Training records
  • Inspection records
  • Accident and near-miss records
  • Equipment maintenance records
  • Contractor management arrangements
    PEEPs or GEEPs where required

Consult CPK provides bespoke health and safety documentation rather than generic documents that may not reflect the workplace.

Every employer should have clear arrangements for managing health and safety. A written health and safety policy is legally required when a business employs five or more people.

A good policy should explain:

  • The organisation’s commitment to health and safety
  • Who is responsible for particular duties
  • How risks are controlled in practice

The policy must be specific to the organisation rather than copied from a generic template. Consult CPK can prepare or review a bespoke health and safety policy for your business. HSENI confirms the five-employee threshold and recommended policy structure.

A health and safety consultant helps an organisation identify risks, understand its duties and put suitable controls in place.

Support may include:

  • Workplace inspections and audits
  • Risk assessments
    Health and safety policies
  • RAMS and method statements
  • Safe operating procedures
  • Accident investigations
  • Compliance action plans
  • Staff training
  • Ongoing Competent Person support

Consult CPK provides advice that is tailored to the organisation’s actual activities, employees and premises.

Health and safety duties can apply to self-employed people where their work could create a risk to themselves or others. The exact responsibilities depend on the nature of the activity, workplace and people potentially affected.

Consult CPK can review your working arrangements and advise what documentation and controls may be appropriate.

Health and safety arrangements should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is a significant change.

A review may be needed after:

  • An accident or near miss
  • A change in staff or responsibilities
  • New equipment or substances
  • Changes to the premises
  • A new work process
  • Changes in legislation or official guidance
  • Concerns raised by employees
  • Evidence that existing controls are ineffective

Consult CPK can provide scheduled reviews and annual safety action reports to keep arrangements current.

Risk Assessments, RAMS and Procedures

Yes. Every employer must assess risks to employees and other people who may be affected by the organisation’s activities.

Businesses with five or more employees must record the significant findings. Organisations with fewer than five employees may not be required to record them, but written assessments remain useful evidence of proper risk management. HSENI explains the risk assessment process and recording requirements.

There is no single review period suitable for every risk assessment. It should be reviewed periodically and whenever there is reason to believe it is no longer valid.

Common triggers include an accident, a new employee, new equipment, altered premises, a change in the task or new information about a hazard.

A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. Risk considers how likely that harm is to occur and how serious its consequences could be.

For example, a wet floor is a hazard. The likelihood of someone slipping and the potential severity of the resulting injury form part of the risk assessment.

A method statement describes how a task will be carried out safely. It normally covers the work sequence, responsibilities, equipment, access requirements, control measures, emergency arrangements and relevant personal protective equipment.

It should relate directly to the job rather than being a generic document reused without proper review.

A toolbox talk is a short, focused safety discussion about a particular workplace risk or task. It is normally delivered to employees before work begins or as part of ongoing safety communication.

Topics may include working at height, manual handling, PPE, slips and trips, electrical safety, fire precautions or safe equipment use. Attendance and the subject discussed should be recorded.

The five main steps are:

  1. Identify the hazards.
  2. Decide who could be harmed and how.
  3. Evaluate the risks and choose suitable precautions.
  4. Record and implement the findings.
  5. Review the assessment and update it when necessary.

Consult CPK can complete workplace risk assessments and help managers implement the resulting actions.

Yes. Consult CPK prepares bespoke risk assessments for businesses and organisations across Northern Ireland.

The process may involve a site visit, discussions with relevant employees, observation of work activities and a review of existing documentation. The completed assessment identifies hazards, people at risk, current controls and any further action required.

RAMS stands for Risk Assessments and Method Statements. These documents explain the hazards associated with a job, the necessary control measures and the safe sequence in which the work should be completed.

RAMS are commonly required in construction, maintenance, engineering, installation and contractor work. Consult CPK can prepare or review RAMS documentation for specific projects and activities.

A standard operating procedure, or SOP, gives employees clear instructions for completing a routine activity safely and consistently.

An SOP may cover:

  • Who is authorised to perform the task
  • Required training
  • Equipment and materials
  • The correct sequence of work
  • Safety precautions
  • Emergency action
  • Records that must be completed

Consult CPK develops standard operating procedures tailored to individual workplaces.

Workplace Inspections and Audits

An inspection normally focuses on physical conditions and working practices at a particular point in time. An audit examines the wider health and safety management system, including policies, responsibilities, records, procedures and evidence that controls are working.

Many organisations benefit from using both.

The frequency should reflect the level of risk, type of work, previous findings and rate of change within the organisation.

A low-risk office may require less frequent formal inspections than a construction, manufacturing, care or industrial workplace. Consult CPK can recommend an appropriate inspection schedule following an initial review.

Yes. Consult CPK can review policies, risk assessments, training records, accident arrangements and supporting evidence before an external audit, accreditation assessment, pre-qualification questionnaire or tender submission.

This can help identify missing or outdated information before it affects the organisation’s application.

A workplace inspection examines the premises, work activities, equipment and current safety arrangements.

Depending on the organisation, it may cover:

  • Access and walkways
  • Housekeeping
  • Work equipment
  • Fire precautions
  • Electrical safety
  • Manual handling
  • Hazardous substances
  • PPE
  • Welfare facilities
  • Training and supervision
  • Emergency arrangements
  • Existing documentation

Consult CPK provides site visits and annual safety action reports throughout Northern Ireland.

Following the visit, Consult CPK can provide a prioritised report explaining:

  • Identified hazards or compliance gaps
  • Recommended corrective action
  • Who should be responsible
  • Suggested completion timescales
  • Longer-term improvements

The aim is to provide a practical action plan rather than an unnecessarily complicated report.

Fire Safety

Employers and people responsible for non-domestic premises must assess the risk of fire and introduce suitable fire precautions.

A written fire risk assessment is required where five or more people are employed, but recording it is good practice for businesses of every size. HSENI provides guidance on workplace fire risk assessments.

Consult CPK completes professional fire risk assessments across Northern Ireland.

A fire risk assessment should be kept under review and updated whenever significant changes occur.

Examples include:

  • Alterations to the building
  • A change in occupancy or building use
  • New equipment or processes
  • Changes to escape routes
  • A fire or significant near miss
  • New information about a fire risk
  • Evidence that existing controls are inadequate

Regular scheduled reviews are also recommended.

The appropriate frequency should be based on the fire risk assessment, the premises and the people using it. HSENI guidance indicates that drills are usually carried out every six months, although higher-risk or more complex premises may require them more frequently.

Drills should be recorded and any problems identified should lead to corrective action. See HSENI’s workplace fire-safety FAQs

Businesses should have clear procedures explaining what occupants must do if a fire is discovered or the alarm sounds.

A site-specific emergency evacuation plan may include:

  • How the alarm is raised
  • Escape routes and exits
  • Assembly points
  • Staff responsibilities
  • Arrangements for calling the Fire and Rescue Service
  • Procedures for visitors and contractors
  • Assistance for people who may require it
  • Arrangements for checking that areas are clear

A General Emergency Evacuation Plan, or GEEP, outlines arrangements for visitors or building users who may require assistance but are not known individually in advance.

GEEPs are particularly relevant to public buildings, hospitality venues, leisure facilities, education settings and other premises used by members of the public.

A fire alarm zone plan helps staff and emergency responders quickly identify the area in which an alarm has been activated.

The plan should correspond with the fire alarm panel, use clearly defined zones and be displayed beside the panel. Consult CPK can survey premises and prepare accurate fire alarm zone plans.

Responsibility may rest with the employer, owner, landlord, occupier or another person who controls the premises. In shared buildings, more than one person may have responsibilities and they should cooperate with one another.

The responsible person must ensure that risks are assessed, precautions are maintained, employees receive information and suitable emergency arrangements are in place.

A fire risk assessment generally considers:

  • Possible sources of ignition
  • Combustible materials
  • People who may be at risk
  • Fire detection and warning systems
  • Emergency lighting
  • Escape routes and exits
  • Fire doors
  • Fire extinguishing equipment
  • Signs and notices
  • Staff information and training
  • Arrangements for vulnerable occupants
  • Inspection and maintenance records

The final report should identify necessary actions and priorities.

Workplace fire alarms should normally be tested weekly, using a different manual call point where practicable. The result should be recorded in the premises’ fire logbook.

Periodic servicing and maintenance should also be completed by a competent specialist.

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, or PEEP, is an individual plan for someone who may need assistance to evacuate safely during an emergency.

This may include a person with mobility, sensory, cognitive or medical needs. The plan should be developed in consultation with the individual and reviewed if their needs or working environment change.

Consult CPK can prepare PEEPs and GEEPs for workplaces and public buildings.

An emergency evacuation map is a clear visual plan showing occupants how to leave a building safely.

It may display:

The viewer’s current location
Escape routes
Final exits
Assembly points
Fire alarm call points
Firefighting equipment
Important safety instructions

Consult CPK creates site-specific emergency evacuation maps for Northern Ireland premises.

Where fire doors form part of a building’s fire precautions, they should be inspected and maintained so they can perform correctly during a fire.

An inspection can identify issues involving:

  • Door closers
  • Hinges and ironmongery
  • Gaps around the door
  • Intumescent strips and smoke seals
  • Glazing
  • Signage
  • Damage or unauthorised alterations

Consult CPK provides professional fire door inspections and clear reports of required remedial action.

Training and Employee Competence

Employers must provide employees with suitable health and safety information, instruction and training. The training should reflect the employee’s work, workplace risks and level of responsibility.

Induction training should normally cover basic arrangements such as first aid, fire evacuation, accident reporting and workplace rules. HSENI provides further guidance on employee training.

Yes. Consult CPK can deliver accredited or bespoke training at client premises, subject to course and facility requirements. This can reduce travel, allow content to reflect the actual workplace and make training more convenient for larger groups.

Consult CPK provides classroom, practical and online training across areas including:

  • Health and safety
  • Fire safety
  • First aid
  • Manual handling
  • Mental health awareness
  • Safeguarding
  • Emergency response pool
  • Workplace and operational skills

Course availability, duration and accreditation will depend on the selected programme.

Consult CPK provides both accredited and bespoke training. The accreditation and certification depend on the particular course selected.

Businesses should contact Consult CPK with their requirements so the most appropriate course and certification can be confirmed.

Training may be needed:

  • When someone starts work
  • When they take on new responsibilities
  • When equipment or working methods change
  • When new risks are introduced
  • When an assessment identifies a skills gap
  • Following an incident or unsafe practice
  • When refresher training is due

Employers should retain appropriate training records.

Yes. Bespoke training can be developed around the organisation’s activities, procedures, workforce and particular risks.

This may be suitable where an off-the-shelf course does not address the organisation’s working environment or responsibilities.

Yes. A range of e-learning courses is available in health and safety, health and social care, mental health and wellbeing, hospitality and business skills.

Online training can be particularly useful for induction, refresher training and organisations with employees working across different sites.

Certificate validity depends on the subject and awarding requirements. Some qualifications have a defined expiry date, while others require refresher training at suitable intervals.

Consult CPK can advise on the relevant renewal requirements when recommending a course.

First Aid, Manual Handling and Employee Wellbeing

The number and type of first aid personnel required should be determined by a first aid needs assessment.

The assessment should consider:

  • Number of employees
  • Workplace hazards
  • Shift patterns
  • Staff absences
  • Workplace size and layout
  • Remote or lone working
  • Previous accidents
  • Distance from emergency medical assistance

Consult CPK can help identify the appropriate first aid training for your organisation.

Employers must avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess unavoidable tasks and reduce the risk of injury. Training may form part of the controls, but training alone does not make an unsafe task acceptable.

Consult CPK’s manual handling training combines practical techniques with an understanding of manual handling risks.

Employers have responsibilities to protect employees from risks to their health, including work-related stress. Relevant factors can include workload, control, support, relationships, role clarity and organisational change.

Consult CPK provides confidential individual stress assessments and practical recommendations for employers.

Emergency First Aid at Work is generally suited to lower-risk workplaces where the first aider needs to manage basic workplace emergencies.

First Aid at Work is a more detailed qualification intended for organisations with higher risks or more extensive first aid needs. The correct choice should be based on the employer’s first aid needs assessment.

Workers who regularly use display screen equipment should have their workstation assessed. The assessment may consider the screen, keyboard, mouse, chair, desk, posture, lighting, environment and organisation of the work.

Consult CPK provides DSE assessments for office-based, hybrid and home workers.

Face fit testing checks whether a tight-fitting respirator forms an adequate seal against the wearer’s face.

Each wearer should be tested with the specific make, model, type and size of mask they use. Facial hair can prevent an effective seal. Consult CPK provides face fit testing for organisations across Northern Ireland.

Construction and Contractor Safety

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations place duties on those who commission, plan, design and carry out construction work.

The duties depend on the person’s role and may apply to clients, designers, principal designers, contractors and principal contractors. The objective is to manage risks from the planning stage through construction and completion.

Consult CPK provides CDM consultancy and practical support for construction projects.

Before appointing a contractor, an organisation may need to review:

  • Relevant experience and competence
  • Insurance
  • Risk assessments and method statements
  • Training and qualifications
  • Equipment inspection records
  • Accident history
  • Supervision arrangements
  • Subcontractor management
  • Emergency procedures

The level of assessment should be proportionate to the work and associated risk.

CDM duties can apply to construction work regardless of the project’s size. The precise requirements depend on factors such as the project structure, duration, number of contractors and nature of the work.

Small projects should not assume they are automatically exempt.

Accidents, Near Misses and Compliance Concerns

The immediate priorities are to help the injured person, control any continuing danger and contact emergency services where required.

The employer should then:

  • Record the incident
  • Preserve relevant evidence
  • Speak to witnesses
  • Investigate the underlying causes
  • Review relevant risk assessments
  • Introduce corrective action
  • Determine whether the incident is reportable

Consult CPK can assist with accident investigation and follow-up actions.

Certain work-related deaths, injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences must be reported under the Northern Ireland RIDDOR requirements.

Northern Ireland’s reporting rules differ in some respects from those used in Great Britain, so businesses should use current HSENI guidance rather than relying on GB-only information. HSENI provides Northern Ireland-specific incident reporting guidance.

A near miss is an unplanned incident that did not cause injury or damage but had the potential to do so.

Recording and investigating near misses helps organisations correct problems before a more serious incident occurs.

Consult CPK can help an organisation understand identified shortcomings, develop a prioritised action plan, update documentation and introduce appropriate controls.

Legal responsibility remains with the duty holder, and specialist legal advice may also be necessary in enforcement or prosecution matters.

Working With Consult CPK

Consult CPK is based in Bangor and supports organisations throughout Northern Ireland, including Belfast, North Down, Ards, Lisburn, Antrim, Newtownabbey and surrounding areas.

Support is also available in Ireland and the wider UK depending on the service required.

Yes. Businesses can request assistance with an individual project such as a policy, risk assessment, fire risk assessment, site inspection, training course or evacuation map.

Yes. Consult CPK can help establish consistent health and safety standards across multiple premises while recognising the different risks and arrangements at each location.

Contact Consult CPK by telephone on 028 9145 3797 or 07368 593748, or email hello@consult-cpk.co.uk. Provide a short description of your organisation, location and the support required, and the team can recommend the next steps.

Consult CPK supports private, public and voluntary-sector organisations, including:

  • Construction
  • Healthcare and social care
  • Education
  • Hospitality
  • Leisure
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Offices and professional services
  • Community and voluntary organisations
  • Property and facilities management

Every service is adapted to the risks and responsibilities of the client.

Yes. Ongoing support can include Competent Person assistance, scheduled site visits, document reviews, advice, safety meetings, annual action reports and access to health and safety management resources.

The cost depends on the size of the organisation, number of premises, risk level, documentation required and whether support is one-off or ongoing.Consult CPK can discuss your requirements and provide a quotation based on the actual work involved.

Cannot find the answer you need?

Speak to Consult CPK for practical health and safety, fire safety and training advice tailored to your Northern Ireland organisation.

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