Coronavirus: Health and Safety Executive working with south Antrim businesses ‘to protect staff’

HSENI said it is liaising with employers after several residents contacted this newspaper to voice concerns about working conditions at a number of organisations.

A spokesperson for the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in the province, said: “HSENI is unable to comment on individual cases but can confirm we are working with a number of businesses in the south Antrim area to ensure that suitable measures are being taken to protect staff in line with public health guidelines.”

Claims around social distancing have been made about the Caterpillar site in the Old Glenarm Road area of Larne. Yesterday (Thursday), the American giant revealed work at its Springvale plant in Belfast would be suspended for three weeks from Monday, April 6. The Larne factory, where generator sets are manufactured, remains open.

Caterpillar has also said it will be “adhering to the government’s guidance” and “our employees’ safety, health and well-being remain a top priority”.

Similar assurances have been offered by other businesses in the area.

Residents had also contacted elected representatives about working conditions at the Sensata plant in Carrickfergus in light of the coronavirus crisis.

A spokesperson for Sensata stressed the health of staff was a “priority” and “we have implemented many measures to ensure that Sensata’s sites in Northern Ireland are operating in line with the government’s requirements on social distancing and personal hygiene”.

Meanwhile, a new multi-agency forum has been established by the Northern Ireland Executive in a move to provide clear guidance for businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.

The first meeting of the Engagement Forum on Covid-19 took place with representatives of the CBI, the NI Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Manufacturing NI, the NI Retail Consortium, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Unison, NIPSA, the INTO, Unite, USDAW, the Institute of Directors, the Public Health Agency, the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland and SOLACE taking part.

The forum has agreed to provide collective advice on the measures required to protect the safety of key workers and essential businesses, as well on the list of key workers and essential/non-essential businesses referred to in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

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