Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

Extension of time for bringing summary proceedings N.I.

F1 F2 32.—(1) Where—

(a) a special report on any matter to which Article 16 applies is made under paragraph (2)( a) of that Article; or

(b) a report is made by the person holding an inquiry into any such matter under paragraph (2)( b) of that Article; or

(c) a coroner's inquest is held touching the death of any person whose death may have been caused by an accident which happened while he was at work or by a disease which he contracted or probably contracted at work or by any accident, act or omission which occurred in connection with the work of any person whatsoever;

and it appears from the report or, in a case falling within sub-paragraph ( c), from the proceedings at the inquest, that any of the relevant statutory provisions was contravened at a time which is material in relation to the subject-matter of the report or inquest, summary proceedings against any person liable to be proceeded against in respect of the contravention may be commenced at any time within three months of the making of the report or, in a case falling within sub-paragraph ( c), within three months of the conclusion of the inquest.

(2) Where an offence under any of the relevant statutory provisions is committed by reason of a failure to do something at or within a time fixed by or under any of those provisions, the offence shall be deemed to continue until that thing is done.

(3) Summary proceedings for an offence to which this paragraph applies may be commenced at any time withinF3 six months from the date on which there comes to the knowledge of a responsible enforcing authority evidence sufficient in the opinion of that authority to justify a prosecution for that offence; and for the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) a certificate of an enforcing authority stating that such evidence came to its knowledge on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and

(b) a document purporting to be such a certificate and to be signed by or on behalf of the enforcing authority in question shall be presumed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.

(4) Paragraph (3) applies to any offence under any of the relevant statutory provisions which a person commits under any provision or requirement to which he is subject as the designer, manufacturer, importer or supplier of any thing; and in that paragraph “responsible enforcing authority” means an enforcing authority within whose field of responsibility the offence in question lies, whether under Article 33 or otherwise.

F1 mod. by SR 2000/87; 2000/120

F2 mod. by 2002 c. 8 (NI)

F3 mod. by SI 1992/711

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Arts. 32 applied (2.4.2006) by The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/397), reg. 35

C2 Arts. 31-39 applied (with modifications) (27.7.2009) by Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/238), reg. 14(1)(b)

C3 Arts. 31-39 applied (with modifications) (24.8.2009) by Explosives (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/273), reg. 14(1)(b)

C4 Arts. 31-39 applied (with modifications) (1.9.2013) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/206), regs. 2(1), 7(1)(b) (with regs. 3, 8-15, 19, 20, 21)

C5 Arts. 31-39 applied (1.3.2014) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1506), regs. 2(4), 20 (with regs. 3(4)(5), 31, 32, 33(2))

C6 Arts. 31-39 applied (with mofifications) (1.6.2015) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/206), regs. 2(2), 16 (with regs. 3, 19, 20, 21)

C7 Arts. 31-39 applied with modification(s) (1.6.2015) by The Explosives (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/236), regs. 1(2), 5(1)(b), 9, 10

C8 Arts. 31-39 applied (with modifications) (28.9.2015) by The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/325), regs. 1, 27(1)(d) (with regs. 3(2), 27(3))

C9 Arts. 31-39 applied (23.10.2015) by The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/339), regs. 1, 30(2)(a) (with reg. 3(1)(2))

C10 Arts. 23-33 applied (with modifications) (21.10.2016) by The Making Available on the Market and Supervision of Transfers of Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/366), reg. 1, Sch. 2 paras. 6(a), 7 (with Sch. 2 para. 7(2))

C11 Art. 32 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1092), reg. 1, Sch. 7 paras. 1(n), 2 (with reg. 3)

C12 Art. 32 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Lifts Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1093), reg. 1, Sch. 9 paras. 1(o), 2 (with regs. 3-5)

C13 Art. 32 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1101), reg. 1, Sch. 5 paras. 1, 2 (with reg. 3)

C14 Art. 32 applied (with modifications) (8.12.2016) by The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1105), reg. 1, Sch. 9 paras. 1(n), 2 (with reg. 88)

C15 Arts. 31-39 applied (19.12.2016) by The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/406), regs. 1, 36(1)(d) (with reg. 4(2), Sch. 15)

C16 Arts. 31-39 applied (19.12.2016) by The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/406), regs. 1, 36(8)(d) (with reg. 4(2), Sch. 15)

C17 Art. 32 applied (with modifications) (10.7.2017) by The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/90), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1(n)

C18 Art. 32(1)(c)(d) applied (with modifications) (10.5.2010 with effect as mentioned in reg. 41 of the amending Regulations) by virtue of Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/132), regs. 1(2), 40(2)(3)(g)

C19 Art. 32(2) applied (with modifications) (10.5.2010 with effect as mentioned in reg. 41 of the amending Regulations) by Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/132), regs. 1(2), 40(2)(3)(g)

C20 Art. 32(2)-(4) applied (with modifications) (16.1.2012) by Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/3066), reg. 40(2)(3)(g) (with reg. 3)