UK Health & Safety Legislation

Understanding which laws apply to your business is the first step to compliance. This page provides an overview of the key UK health and safety legislation, with links to the official texts and our plain-English guides.

Primary Legislation (Acts of Parliament)

These are the main laws passed by Parliament that establish the framework for health and safety in the UK.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The foundation of all UK health and safety law. This Act sets out the general duties of employers, employees, and the self-employed to ensure health, safety, and welfare at work.

• Applies to: All employers, employees, and self-employed persons
• Key requirements: General duty of care, risk assessment, safe systems of work
• Enforced by: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The primary fire safety legislation for England and Wales. It places responsibility on the "responsible person" to carry out fire risk assessments and implement fire safety measures in non-domestic premises.

• Applies to: All non-domestic premises, including workplaces, HMOs, and common areas of residential buildings
• Key requirements: Fire risk assessment, fire safety measures, emergency planning
• Enforced by: Fire and Rescue Services

Fire Safety Act 2021

Amends the Fire Safety Order to clarify that it applies to the structure, external walls (including cladding), and flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings.

• Applies to: Multi-occupied residential buildings
• Key requirements: Extended scope of fire risk assessments
• Enforced by: Fire and Rescue Services

Regulations (Secondary Legislation)

Regulations are made under Acts of Parliament and provide more detailed requirements for specific hazards or industries.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Sets out the general framework for managing health and safety, including the requirement to carry out risk assessments.

• Applies to: All employers and self-employed persons
• Key requirements: Risk assessment, competent persons, health surveillance, information and training

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Sets out the requirements for managing asbestos in non-domestic premises and for work with asbestos-containing materials.

• Applies to: Duty holders (building owners/managers) and anyone working with asbestos
• Key requirements: Duty to manage, asbestos surveys, licensed/non-licensed work categories
• Enforced by: HSE

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

Requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health.

• Applies to: All workplaces where hazardous substances are used or produced
• Key requirements: COSHH assessments, control measures, health surveillance, training
• Enforced by: HSE

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM)

Sets out the duties of clients, designers, and contractors for managing health and safety on construction projects.

• Applies to: All construction projects in Great Britain
• Key requirements: Duty holder appointments, pre-construction information, construction phase plans
• Enforced by: HSE

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)

Requires employers to report certain workplace injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE.

• Applies to: All employers, self-employed persons, and those in control of premises
• Key requirements: Reporting specified injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences
• Enforced by: HSE

Work at Height Regulations 2005

Sets out requirements for work at height, including planning, supervision, and equipment selection.

• Applies to: All work at height where there is a risk of falling
• Key requirements: Avoid work at height where possible, use appropriate equipment, plan and supervise
• Enforced by: HSE

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Requires precautions to be taken against the risk of death or injury from electricity.

• Applies to: All workplaces and electrical systems
• Key requirements: Safe systems, maintenance, competence
• Enforced by: HSE

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

Sets out requirements for the safe installation, maintenance, and use of gas systems and appliances.

• Applies to: All premises with gas installations, particularly landlords
• Key requirements: Annual gas safety checks (landlords), Gas Safe registered engineers
• Enforced by: HSE

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

Requires employers to avoid hazardous manual handling where possible, assess risks, and reduce the risk of injury.

• Applies to: All workplaces involving manual handling
• Key requirements: Avoid, assess, reduce manual handling risks
• Enforced by: HSE

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

Requires that work equipment is suitable, maintained, inspected, and used safely.

• Applies to: All workplaces using work equipment
• Key requirements: Suitable equipment, maintenance, inspection, training
• Enforced by: HSE

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

Sets out requirements for lifting equipment and lifting operations.

• Applies to: All workplaces using lifting equipment
• Key requirements: Equipment strength and stability, thorough examination, safe operations
• Enforced by: HSE

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Sets out general requirements for the workplace environment, including ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, and facilities.

• Applies to: Most workplaces (excluding construction sites, ships, mines)
• Key requirements: Ventilation, temperature, lighting, cleanliness, sanitary facilities
• Enforced by: HSE and local authorities

Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

Sets out requirements for work with display screen equipment (computers, laptops, etc.).

• Applies to: Employers with staff who regularly use DSE
• Key requirements: Workstation assessment, breaks, eye tests
• Enforced by: HSE

Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981

Requires employers to provide adequate first-aid equipment, facilities, and personnel.

• Applies to: All employers
• Key requirements: First-aid needs assessment, equipment, appointed persons or first aiders
• Enforced by: HSE

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Requires employers to provide suitable PPE where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

• Applies to: All employers where PPE is needed
• Key requirements: PPE assessment, provision, maintenance, training
• Enforced by: HSE

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969

Requires most employers to have employers' liability insurance to cover claims from employees who are injured or become ill at work.

• Applies to: Most employers (some exemptions apply)
• Key requirements: Minimum £5 million cover, display certificate
• Enforced by: HSE

Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs)

ACOPs are not law themselves, but they give practical guidance on how to comply with the law. If you follow an ACOP, you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.

L8 - Legionella: Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems

The main guidance document for controlling Legionella in water systems.

• Relates to: HSWA 1974, COSHH 2002
• Key content: Risk assessment, written schemes, temperature control, monitoring

L143 - Managing and Working with Asbestos

The ACOP for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

• Relates to: Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
• Key content: Duty to manage, surveys, licensed work, training

Management of Health and Safety at Work Guidance

Guidance on the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (L21 withdrawn - content now available online).

• Relates to: Management Regulations 1999
• Key content: Risk assessment process, competent persons, principles of prevention

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