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Getting started

This page provides you with basic information about what you must do to make sure your retail business complies with health and safety law. Local Authorities normally enforce health and safety law in the retail sector. 

Find your local authority[1]

HSE's Entertainments, Leisure, Commercial & Consumer Services Sector, has the operational policy lead for the sector.

What you must do

Health and safety law applies to all businesses, no matter how small. As an employer, or a self-employed person, you are responsible for health and safety in your business. You need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of workplace dangers and provide a safe working environment.

What you should know

Health and safety doesn't have to be complicated. Information on HSE's Health and safety basics for your business [2] site will make it easier for you to comply with the law and manage health and safety in your business.

For many businesses, all that's required is a basic series of tasks. The site will take you through the steps and help you to make sure you have done what you need to.

Information on the following can be found at Health and safety basics for your business [3].

For some work in the retail  industry there may be specific risks and activities[12] you need to consider to make sure you are complying with the law.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Find your local authorityhttps://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council
  2. Health and safety basics for your business https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/index.htm
  3. Health and safety basics for your business https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/index.htm
  4. Decide who will help with your dutieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/gettinghelp/index.htm
  5. Write a health and safety policy for your businesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/policy/index.htm
  6. Manage the risks in your businesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/index.htm
  7. Consult your employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/consult.htm
  8. Provide training and informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/training/index.htm
  9. Provide the right workplace facilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/workplace-facilities/index.htm
  10. Display the health and safety Law posterhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/display.htm
  11. Get insurance for your businesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/insurance/index.htm
  12. specific risks and activitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/retail/topics.htm
  13. Managing musculoskeletal disorders in checkout workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg269.htm
  14. Preventing slips and trips at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg225.htm
  15. Manual handling at work: A brief guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.htm
  16. Local Authoritieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/index.htm
  17. Local Authority Environmental Health Departmenthttps://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council
  18. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
  19. Bakerieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/food/bakery.htm
  20. Catering and hospitalityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/catering/index.htm
  21. Chilled and frozen foodshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/food/chilled.htm
  22. Cleaninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/index.htm
  23. COSHH essentials for service and retail https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/srseries.htm
  24. Legionellahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/index.htm
  25. Report an incident - RIDDORhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

RIDDOR
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

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Updated 2025-02-13