Explanatory note

These Regulations extend to police officers Regulations made under Part II of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)) prior to the coming into operation of the Police (Health and Safety) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1774 (N.I. 16)). The Regulations also amend certain health and safety regulations to take account of the position of the police.

The definition of “employee” in health and safety regulations which were in operation before the commencement of the Police (Health and Safety) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 is extended to include constables (regulation 2).

The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 (S.R. 1979 No. 437) are amended to make provision for the Police Association for Northern Ireland to be treated as a recognised trade union (regulation 3).

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (S.R. 1993 No. 20) are amended so that where there is an inevitable conflict between the exercise of police powers and an employer’s duty to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to employees, the duty shall be complied with so far as is reasonably practicable (regulation 4).

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 305) are amended so that work equipment used by the police for arrest, restraint, self-defence or as deterrent equipment must be suitable for use in any respect which it is reasonably foreseeable will affect the health or safety of a constable (regulation 5).