What Health And Safety Legislation Should All Employers Know About?

Health and safety legislation plays a critical role in protecting both workers and the general public from all kinds of hazards — large and small. Regulations provide employers with the necessary guidance to create and maintain safer workplaces. Here’s a roundup of the health and safety laws you should know.

Health and safety legislation in the UK is essential to protecting workers and members of the public alike, ensuring that working environments and public spaces are as safe as possible. Numerous laws have been implemented to provide oversight, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 — the cornerstone of laws that protect employees from harm while at work. Additionally, there are specific regulations concerning dangerous working environments, health surveillance protocols and preventive procedures such as fire safety.

By closely following these regulations, businesses and organisations can take measures to protect their staff as well as any members of the public who may enter their premises, upholding an appropriate level of safety in our society.

In this guide, we provide a brief overview of these key pieces of health and safety legislation in the UK. 

1. Health And Safety At Work Etc. Act 1974

Let’s start with the centrepiece of all occupational health and safety regulations in Great Britain: the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Also known as HASAWA, the HSW Act, or the 1974 Act, it outlines the general duties of every employer “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

These responsibilities include:

• Providing and maintaining safe systems of work
• Ensuring safe usage, handling, storage and transport of work-related articles and substances
• Providing information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure workplace health and safety
• Providing a safe workplace, including safe entrances and exits
• Ensuring the presence of adequate welfare provisions.

In addition, the law also identifies employees’ responsibilities for ensuring workplace health and safety, including:

• Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by their work
• Cooperating with employers so far as necessary and complying with health and safety provisions in the workplace. 

The effect of this legislation has led to a dramatic decrease in fatalities, injuries and instances of ill health caused by work in Britain over the last forty years — making it one of the most effective pieces of legislation ever written.

Image Source: Statista

Related Reading: What Are The Occupational Health Regulations In The UK?

2. The Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations 1999 

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) is an important piece of legislation designed to reinforce the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 

For instance, while the 1974 Act outlines the general health and safety responsibilities of employers, self-employed people and employees alike, MHSWR goes into further detail and specifies what these groups should do to protect the health and safety of people while at work.

The regulation also sets out the overall framework for a safe system of work, including identifying and minimising potential risks through proper risk assessments. They require all employers to carry out the necessary health and safety training for employees, as well as provide them with suitable protection equipment if needed. 

Related Reading: The 5 Steps to Risk Assessment Explained

MHSWR also requires that hazards are reported to the enforcing authorities so appropriate action can be taken to prevent injury or illness. Ultimately, these regulations are intended to help ensure that businesses create a safe working environment for their employees and protect them from any harm caused by hazardous conditions.

3. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 provide explicit guidance on how to keep nearly all types of workplace accommodations or premises safe for everyone who uses them. 

The regulations outline health and safety requirements in areas such as:

• Maintenance of workplace premises, facilities and equipment 
• Ventilation of enclosed workplaces
• Maintenance of a reasonable temperature in indoor workspaces
• Providing adequate lighting and emergency lighting
• Handling and disposal of waste materials
• Creating adequately-sized workrooms
• Providing suitable workstations and seating
• Ensuring floors and traffic routes are appropriate and properly maintained
• Ensuring that windows and transparent/translucent doors, gates and walls are adequately protected against breakage or made of safety material
• Providing doors and gates suitably constructed for their purpose
• Providing sufficient sanitary facilities for men and women.

4. The Health And Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 

The provisions in Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 specifically apply to display screen equipment (DSE) users — also known as workers who regularly use a computer screen in the course of their normal work. 

The regulations require employers to ensure the following:

• Conduct a risk assessment of how DSE users use workstations and reduce identified risks
• Create guidelines to ensure DSE users take appropriate breaks
• Provide regular eyesight checks
• Provide sufficient information about health and safety
• Provide ergonomic furniture (such as desks or chairs)
• Demonstrate the presence of sufficient procedures to reduce the risk of DSE work, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Related Reading: Guide To Workplace Health And Safety Training In Construction

5. The Personal Protective Equipment At Work Regulations 1992 

While the COVID-19 pandemic put the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) under the spotlight, its role in creating safer workplaces goes back to the 1990s.  The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPER) 1992 puts a legal obligation on all employers in Great Britain to provide suitable PPE to any worker whose health or safety at work may be at risk. 

The regulation’s key provisions call on employers to do the following:

• Ensure that suitable PPE is provided free of charge anytime there are risks to health and safety that would not be adequately controlled without PPE use
• Provide information, instruction and training on the proper use of PPE.

Making The World Of Work Safer Begins With You

Health and safety legislation aims to protect workers and the general public from workplace hazards, large and small. But the effectiveness of these laws ultimately depends on the cooperation of employers and employees to create a sound safety culture. Whether you’re a supplier, contractor or client, it’s your responsibility to comply with health and safety regulations, such as wearing appropriate PPE, following safety procedures, and keeping everyone else safe. 

Note: The information and insights in this article are provided as general information and should not be taken as legal advice. 

Check CHAS Insights to discover more guides and insights on health and safety legislation in Great Britain. If you are interested in demonstrating your compliance with health and safety guidelines, complete our award-winning health and safety assessments through CHAS Standard. Speak to a CHAS advisor to get started.