Furniture-making is machinery- and dust-intensive. Whether you make upholstered furniture, mattresses, wooden kitchen furniture or fitted furniture, the workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply — with wood dust a particular concern. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.
Upholstered furniture and mattresses must also meet strict fire-safety requirements, and all furniture must meet general product safety before it is sold.
What you need to do
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Run a safe factory and employ people
Whatever you make, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe furniture factory" for your health and safety, wood-dust and finishing COSHH controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, insurance, equality and data protection duties.
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Meet the furniture fire-safety and product-safety rules
Upholstered furniture and mattresses must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 — ignition-resistance tests and labelling — and all furniture must meet general product safety. Follow "Meet the furniture fire-safety and product-safety rules".
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Confirm you have covered everything
Finish with the furniture manufacturer compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before you sell.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Read it on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk