Introduction to managing health and safety

You can help us improve our website by completing a short survey.

Go to survey[4]

4. The law

Health and safety laws are there to protect you, your workers and the public from workplace risks. In general, they apply to all businesses.

Health and Safety at Work Act

This is the main law governing health and safety at work in Great Britain.

The Act places general duties on employers, and some self-employed people[5] to do what is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure your health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do.

This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control it in terms of money, time or trouble.

More on the Health and Safety at Work Act[6]

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

Under these Regulations, employers must put arrangements in place to control health and safety risks.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations on legislation.gov.uk[7]

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations

These regulations cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most businesses.

More on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations[8]

Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations

Under these Regulations, employers have a duty to consult with their workers, or their representatives, on health and safety matters.

These Regulations apply in workplaces where:

  • the employer recognises trade unions
  • trade unions are recognised for collective bargaining purposes

More on the joint regulations for consulting with workers and their safety representatives[9]

Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations

These Regulations apply in workplaces where workers are not covered by representatives appointed by recognised trade unions.

More information on consulting workers[10].

Legal duties for workers

Workers must take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work.

They must also co-operate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.

More on what workers must do[11]

Criminal and civil law

Both criminal (health and safety law) and civil law apply to workplace health and safety. They're not the same.

More on criminal and civil law[12]

View a printable version of the whole guide[14]

Link URLs in this page

  1. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/introduction/index.htm
  2. Find the right guidance for your businesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/introduction/business-guidance.htm
  3. How to manage health and safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/introduction/how-to-manage.htm
  4. Go to surveyhttps://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/77V79CQ
  5. some self-employed peoplehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/self-employed/does-law-apply-to-me.htm
  6. More on the Health and Safety at Work Acthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm
  7. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations on legislation.gov.ukhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made
  8. More on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l24.htm
  9. More on the joint regulations for consulting with workers and their safety representativeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l146.htm
  10. More information on consulting workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/consult.htm
  11. More on what workers must dohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/lawleaflet.htm
  12. More on criminal and civil lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/law/index.htm
  13. Previous page How to manage health and safety https://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/introduction/how-to-manage.htm
  14. View a printable version of the whole guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/introduction/print.htm
  15. Managing for health and safety (HSG65)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg65.htm
  16. Health and safety basics for your businesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/index.htm
  17. Common workplace riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/common-workplace-risks.htm
  18. Vulnerable workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vulnerable-workers/index.htm
  19. Using contractorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg368.htm
  20. Have the right workplace and welfare facilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/workplace-facilities/index.htm
  21. Leadership of health and safety at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/leadership/index.htm
  22. ISO 45001 Health and safety management standardhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/management-system/iso45001.htm

Is this page useful?

Updated:2021-03-01