Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - Section 3
The purposes of HSWA include protecting people other than those at work from risks to their health and safety when these arise out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work. The scope of the general duties set out in HSWA Section 3 is very broad so HSE has developed a policy to guide enforcing authorities in exercising discretion Section 3, HSW Act: Policy that complements HSE's Enforcement Policy Statement (EPS) .
HSE's arrangements for enforcing section 3 need to take account of health and safety priorities - most recently set out in HSE's strategy Helping GB WORK WELL - whilst continuing to meet the section18 HSWA duty to make adequate arrangements for enforcing the relevant statutory provisions. HSE's current priorities for enforcement can be found at (Priorities for Enforcement of Section 3 of HSWA 1974- July 2003 (rev April 2015)
Further guidance in relation to the enforcement of Section 3 can be found at: