Life Sciences & Pharma UK-wide

Which scientific research and development regulations apply to your business

Scientific research businesses share universal workplace duties and then carry conditional duties that depend on the type of work you do — from genetically modified organisms and animal research to human tissue and ionising radiation. Most social-science and humanities R&D triggers only the universals.

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
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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.

What you need to do

  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    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.

  3. 3

    Confirm you have covered everything

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

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for scientific research regulation.