UK-wide

MHSWR 1999 compliance checklist

Audit-ready compliance checklist covering all key duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Use this to verify your compliance across risk assessment, competent persons, emergency procedures, information, training, and vulnerable worker protections.

Guide summary

You must complete a risk assessment for all work activities and record it in writing if you have 5 or more employees. Appoint a competent person to help with health and safety. Provide information and training to all workers. Protect vulnerable workers like young people and pregnant women.

  • Complete a risk assessment for all work activities
  • Record risk assessment in writing if 5 or more employees
  • Appoint a competent person for health and safety
  • Provide health and safety training during working hours
  • Assess risks to young workers (under 18) separately
  • Keep health surveillance records for 40 years
  • Review risk assessment at least once a year
  • Inform workers of emergency procedures and nominated persons
  • Display or give workers the HSE health and safety law poster
On this page

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Keep children safe on farms

Legal requirements and practical guidance for protecting children on farms. Covers age restrictions for farm work and machinery, …

How to use this checklist

This checklist covers the key duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Work through each section and assess whether you comply. Where you identify gaps, follow the links to detailed guidance on how to address them.

This checklist is designed to be used for self-audit. It is not exhaustive but covers the duties most frequently cited in HSE enforcement action.

Risk assessment (Regulation 3)

  1. 1

    Suitable and sufficient risk assessment completed for all work activities

  2. 2

    Risk assessment covers risks to employees and others affected by your work

  3. 3

    Significant findings recorded in writing (required if 5+ employees)

  4. 4

    Groups of employees at particular risk identified (young workers, pregnant workers)

  5. 5

    Risk assessment reviewed after accidents, near misses, or significant changes

  6. 6

    Risk assessment reviewed at least annually even if no changes have occurred

  7. 7

    Control measures identified in the assessment have been implemented

Principles of prevention (Regulation 4)

  1. 1

    Control measures follow the hierarchy: eliminate, reduce, isolate, control, PPE

  2. 2

    PPE is used only as a last resort, not as a first response

  3. 3

    Collective protective measures take priority over individual measures

Health and safety arrangements (Regulation 5)

  1. 1

    Arrangements in place for planning, organising, controlling, monitoring and reviewing H&S

  2. 2

    Arrangements recorded in writing (required if 5+ employees)

  3. 3

    Clear allocation of health and safety responsibilities

Health surveillance (Regulation 6)

  1. 1

    Risk assessment reviewed to identify any health surveillance needs

  2. 2

    Health surveillance provided where exposure to specific hazards is identified

  3. 3

    Health surveillance records maintained (40-year retention for identifiable records)

Competent person (Regulation 7)

  1. 1

    One or more competent persons appointed to assist with H&S

  2. 2

    Competent person has adequate training, experience, and knowledge for your risks

  3. 3

    Preference given to internal competent person over external consultant

  4. 4

    Competent person given adequate time and resources

Emergency procedures (Regulations 8-9)

  1. 1

    Procedures established for all reasonably foreseeable emergencies (not just fire)

  2. 2

    Sufficient competent persons nominated to coordinate evacuation

  3. 3

    Workers informed of emergency procedures and nominated persons

  4. 4

    Access to danger areas restricted to those with adequate instruction

  5. 5

    Contacts with external emergency services arranged

  6. 6

    Emergency procedures tested and reviewed regularly

Information (Regulation 10)

  1. 1

    Employees informed of risks identified by risk assessment

  2. 2

    Employees informed of preventive and protective measures

  3. 3

    Employees informed of emergency procedures and nominated persons

  4. 4

    Information provided in comprehensible format for all workers

  5. 5

    HSE health and safety law poster displayed or leaflet distributed

Training (Regulation 13)

  1. 1

    Induction training provided to all new employees

  2. 2

    Training provided when employees are exposed to new or increased risks

  3. 3

    Training provided during working hours

  4. 4

    Refresher training provided periodically

  5. 5

    Employee capabilities assessed before tasks are assigned

  6. 6

    Training records maintained

Vulnerable workers

  1. 1

    Specific risk assessment completed for any young workers (under 18)

  2. 2

    Parent notification provided before any child worker starts

  3. 3

    Generic risk assessment includes risks to women of childbearing age

  4. 4

    Process in place to respond when employee notifies pregnancy

  5. 5

    Temporary worker duties understood and information exchange established with agencies

  6. 6

    Shared workplace cooperation and coordination arrangements in place

Detailed guidance for each regulation