The health and safety section provides advice and guidance to Education Authority (EA) employees, Governors, and Principals on the execution of their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978. It also monitors health and safety standards by conducting audits and inspections, and accident investigation.

The section provides an advisory service on:

• health and safety policies, safe working practices and procedures
• personal safety
• security measures and procedures
• risk management
• health and safety training
• emergency planning

Generic risk assessments using both main approaches to risk assessment i.e. qualitative (a systematic examination of what could cause harm and whether existing precautions or control measures are adequate), and quantitative which ascribes a numerical value to likelihood and severity that, when multiplied, provides a score, indicating the level of risk. Either of the two approaches will allow you to prioritise the risks and give emphasis to those which require immediate attention.