The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched a significant new TV and multimedia advertising campaign aimed at reducing the high number of work-related deaths and illnesses across the region.

The initiative, which officially begins today, Monday 9 February 2026, highlights a stark reality: more than 300 people in Northern Ireland are estimated to die every year due to past exposure to harmful substances such as dust, fumes, and gases. Beyond the human toll, work-related ill health is estimated to cost local society more than £390 million annually.

This latest phase of the HSENI's long-term Workplace Health campaign focuses on three priority areas: occupational lung diseases, occupational cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. The advertisements will appear across TV, radio, social media, and outdoor sites, including buses, to ensure the message reaches as many employers and workers as possible.

Launching the campaign, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald emphasised that these illnesses are preventable. "Work should never come at the expense of health or life," the Minister stated. "By encouraging open conversation and greater awareness, we can help ensure that good jobs support both safety and wellbeing, strengthening our workforce, communities, and the economy."

HSENI Chief Executive Robert Kidd urged businesses of all sizes to engage with the provided guidance. He noted that while safety risks are often immediately visible, health risks are frequently overlooked until it is too late.

"Everyone has the legal right to return home with their health protected, not just their safety," Mr Kidd added. "Our message is simple—look again at the risks to health within your workplace, use the guidance available to manage it, and most importantly, act today! Delaying action only puts people's health at risk."

The campaign is supported by the Workplace Health Statistics and Analysis for Northern Ireland 2025 report, which found that in 2023 alone, work-related COPD claimed an estimated 110 lives, while approximately 18,000 people suffered from musculoskeletal disorders.

For further information and to access practical guidance, employers can visit the HSENI website or use the QR codes featured on campaign materials across the province.