Laura working in fintech asks "I have concerns about my health and safety in my workplace. How can I raise it?"

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If you have a question or are unsure of your rights, if you need support or representation, freephone ROI 1800 81 91 91 NI 0800 358 0071 or email us at advice@fsunion.org - If you are unable to call us, please complete the confidential form HERE and we will respond directly.

 

In ROI

Hi Laura, Report any concerns you have to your colleague-elected Safety Representative. If you do not have one in your workplace, speak with your employer's health and safety officer. By law it is your employer's duty provide and maintain a safe workplace.

  • It is your duty to report any defects in the place of work or equipment which might be a danger to health and safety.It is also your duty to take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of yourself and of other people in the workplace.
  • You cannot be victimised for exercising your rights under safety and health legislation such as making a complaint.

 

In NI

Hi Laura, if you’ve got health and safety concerns at work, you have a legal right to raise them without fear of being treated unfairly.

Start by reporting your concerns to your line manager or supervisor as soon as possible. Be clear about what the issue is, how it affects your safety, and what you think needs to be done.

If that doesn’t sort it:

Raise it with your health and safety rep (if there is one), or your trade union, if you’re a member.

You can also escalate the issue to senior management or your HR department.

If there’s still no action and the risk is serious, you can contact the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) directly and report your concerns.

You’re protected by law under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. That means:

You can’t be disciplined, dismissed, or treated badly for raising genuine health and safety concerns.

If there’s a serious and imminent danger, you have the right to remove yourself from the workplace until it’s made safe without losing pay or being penalised.

Keep a written record of what you raised and when, in case you need to prove it later.

Don’t ignore unsafe conditions. If your employer won’t act, your union will back you—and the law is on your side.