18 May 2020

Northern Ireland - workplace safety guidance and priority sector list

The Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland has updated their published guidance on making workplaces safer and a list of priority sectors during the current coronavirus crisis.

Workplace safety guide
The guide sets out principles and practical steps for employers and employees to keep themselves and their workplaces safe. It also highlights the steps to be followed if employers and employees are concerned about safety.

Download COVID-19: Working Through This Together - A Practical Guide To Making Workplaces Safer from the link below.

Priority sectors list
The workplace safety guidance is accompanied by a list of priority business sectors. The sectors list aims to clarify what constitutes a priority sector at this time and to support companies to continue their business operations if they can work within social distancing guidelines.

Download the priority sectors list from the link below.

The list was drawn up by the Engagement Forum on COVID-19 with representatives from business organisations, trade unions, local councils, government, the Health and Safety Executive NI, Public Health Agency and Food Standards Agency.

The priority sectors list is advisory and serves to allow companies in Northern Ireland to make their own decisions, and the guidance aims to have practical application in the workplace.

The list includes:

• Manufacture of Personal Protective garments and other wearing apparel related to the delivery of health services.
• Manufacture of paper and paper products relating to packaging, human hygiene and medical services.
• Printing and reproduction of recorded media relating to public information and public safety.
• Manufacture of products critical to local, national global supply chains that are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Print media - Newspapers.
• Retail delivery sale of office equipment to facilitate home working.