Processing rubber and plastics is machinery- and chemical-intensive. The workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to you, and the substances you use are subject to UK REACH. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.
Beyond that shared foundation, the rules diverge by whether you place products on the market or produce packaging.
What you need to do
Identify the description that best fits what you make. If more than one applies — for example you make plastic packaging and also place builders' ware on the market — follow every obligation that applies.
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Every rubber and plastics manufacturer
Whatever you make, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe rubber or plastics factory" for your health and safety, COSHH controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, insurance, equality, data protection and your UK REACH duties on the substances you use.
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You place products on the market
Plastic builders' ware (windows, pipes, cladding), tyres, food-contact articles and packaging, or general plastic goods. These need conformity assessment, the right product-safety regime and — where one applies — conformity marking (UKCA, or CE which is still accepted on the GB market) before sale. Follow "Place rubber and plastic products on the market".
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You produce plastic packaging
If you make plastic packaging (SIC 22.22), you have reporting and tax duties on top of product rules: packaging producer responsibility (EPR) and, at 10 tonnes a year, the Plastic Packaging Tax. Follow "Meet packaging producer responsibility and Plastic Packaging Tax".
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Confirm you have covered everything
Whatever you make, finish with the rubber and plastics manufacturer compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before a production run.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Read it on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk