Health and Safety Regulations in the UK

UK health and safety regulations are designed to protect workers, contractors, visitors, and members of the public from work-related injury and ill health. The framework combines primary legislation, statutory regulations, and Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Together these set out duties on employers, employees, and others to identify hazards, assess risks, and put reasonably practicable controls in place.

In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the lead body responsible for enforcement, guidance, and inspections, while local authorities (typically council environmental health teams) regulate certain lower-risk premises such as offices, retail, and hospitality. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent body is the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI). The answer to which organisation regulates health and safety in the UK therefore depends on the type of premises and the country within the UK in which it operates.

Among the most widely applicable UK health and safety regulations, the following six set the foundation across almost every sector.

The cornerstone of the framework, placing a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by their work.

Require employers to assess the workstations of users who habitually use computers, provide eye tests on request, and ensure adequate breaks and equipment to reduce musculoskeletal and eye-strain risks.

Require employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge where risks cannot be controlled by other means, and ensure it is correctly used, stored, and maintained. A 2022 amendment extended these duties to cover limb (b) workers, such as certain agency and casual workers.

Require employers to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments, appoint competent persons, and arrange for the planning, organising, controlling, monitoring, and reviewing of protective measures.

Known as RIDDOR, these require employers to report specified workplace incidents to the HSE, including fatalities, specified injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences.

Require employers to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess unavoidable handling tasks, and reduce the risk of injury to the lowest reasonably practicable level.

Employees also have legal duties under UK health and safety regulations. They must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions, cooperate with the employer on safety matters, and use any equipment, PPE, or safety devices in accordance with training and instructions. Reporting hazards, near misses, and injuries promptly is essential so that controls can be reviewed and strengthened.

Employees also have legal duties under the health and safety regulations UK workplaces operate within. They must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions, cooperate with the employer on safety matters, and use any equipment, PPE, or safety devices in accordance with training and instructions. Reporting hazards, near misses, and injuries promptly is essential so that controls can be reviewed and strengthened.

Risk assessment sits at the heart of UK occupational health and safety. Employers must identify hazards, decide who might be harmed and how, evaluate the risks and existing controls, record significant findings, and review the assessment when something changes or after an incident. The output drives the safe systems of work, training plans, and emergency arrangements that protect the workforce day to day.

Breaches of UK health and safety regulations can result in severe penalties. Both magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court can impose unlimited fines for offences committed since March 2015, when the previous £20,000 cap in the magistrates’ court was removed. Magistrates’ courts can also impose prison sentences of up to six months for many offences, while the Crown Court can hand down sentences of up to two years. Directors and senior managers can be prosecuted personally where consent, connivance, or neglect is established. Convictions also affect insurance, tendering, and reputation long after the event itself.

Staying compliant with UK health and safety regulations starts with strong governance: a clear policy, defined responsibilities, competent advice, and a risk-based approach to controls. Many organisations adopt ISO 45001 as a structured management system that aligns with the legal framework, drives continual improvement, and provides assurance to customers and regulators. Internal audits, management reviews, and regular training keep the system live rather than paper-based.

SEQM Training delivers CQI and IRCA certified ISO 45001 courses for professionals at every level, from foundation to lead auditor. Each course covers the structure of the standard, internal and external auditing techniques, and how the OH&S management system supports the wider UK legal framework. Pair your training with the current standard BS EN ISO 45001:2023+A1:2024, our ISO 45001 requirements guide, and the ISO 45001 checklist for a complete reference.