Guide summary

Set up your research business with basic workplace safety rules first. Then check if you do work with hazardous substances, genetically modified organisms, animals, human tissue or radiation — each of those adds extra duties. Most social science research only needs the basic rules.

Set up workplace safety, fire safety, insurance, equality and data protection for all R&D
Follow 'Set up and run a safe scientific research operation' first
Check if you work with hazardous substances — COSHH duties apply
Check if you work with genetically modified organisms — extra duties apply
Check if you work with animals — extra duties apply
Check if you work with human tissue — extra duties apply
Check if you use ionising radiation — extra duties apply
Use the 'compliance checklist' to confirm you have covered everything
Social science and humanities research usually needs only the basic rules

Scientific research and development covers a wide spectrum — from biotechnology laboratories and natural-science R&D to social-science and humanities research. Every R&D business shares the same workplace-safety foundation, but the activity-specific duties are conditional: each one applies only if you do that specific type of work. Social-science and humanities R&D (SIC 72.20) typically carries only the universal duties, and many natural-science laboratories trigger only COSHH — you do not pick up the animal-research, human-tissue, GMO or radiation duties unless you actually do that work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates workplace safety in Great Britain; the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) does so in Northern Ireland.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 12 months and/or an unlimited fine in Magistrates' Court in England and Wales (12-month custody powers from 18 November 2024; fines unlimited since March 2015 under LASPO 2012, s.85)
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance (opens in a new tab)

What you need to do

Set up your workplace and employ people safely

Every R&D business must meet the universal spine — general health and safety, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection. Follow "Set up and run a safe scientific research operation" to put these in place.
Meet the regulatory duties that apply to your research activities

If your laboratory work involves hazardous substances, genetically modified organisms, animal research, human tissue or ionising radiation, you carry conditional duties on top of the spine. Follow "Meet your scientific research regulatory duties" to work out which apply and what they require.
Confirm you have covered everything

Finish with the scientific research and development compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Primary 1974 · UK-wide

Read it on legislation.gov.uk legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

HSE: biological agents (opens in a new tab)

HSE

HSE: genetically modified organisms (opens in a new tab)

HSE

Home Office: research and testing using animals (opens in a new tab)

Home Office

Which scientific research and development regulations apply to your business

What you need to do

Set up your workplace and employ people safely

Meet the regulatory duties that apply to your research activities

Confirm you have covered everything

Legal basis

Official guidance

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