Sports, amusement and recreation businesses bring the public into contact with physical activity, water, mechanical rides, licensed entertainment and — in some cases — gambling. The workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to every operator. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces in Great Britain; the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) enforces in Northern Ireland.

Beyond that shared foundation, the rules diverge by what you operate. Some activities require a licence, safety certificate or permit before you can open to the public.

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 6 months and/or £20,000 fine in Magistrates' Court
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)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance

What you need to do

Identify the description that best fits your business. If more than one applies — for example you run a leisure centre with a swimming pool, a gym and a licensed bar — follow every obligation that applies.

1

Every sports, amusement and recreation business

Whatever you operate, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe sports, amusement and recreation business" for your health and safety, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection duties.
2

You run venues serving alcohol, host sports events, operate a pool, coach children, run rides, offer adventure activities or operate gaming machines

These activities carry their own licensing, certification, safeguarding or safety duties on top of the universal spine. All seven activity-specific regimes are covered in "Meet your sports, amusement and recreation regulatory duties" — from premises licences and sports ground safety certificates through to adventure activity licensing and gaming machine permits.
3

Confirm you have covered everything

Whatever you operate, finish with the sports, amusement and recreation compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before you open or continue trading.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for sports, amusement and recreation businesses.

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

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What you need to do

Every sports, amusement and recreation business

You run venues serving alcohol, host sports events, operate a pool, coach children, run rides, offer adventure activities or operate gaming machines

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Environmental compliance for construction sites

Structural works compliance checklist

Film and TV production tax reliefs and regulation

Clinical governance and quality improvement

Excavation and foundation safety

What you need to do

Every sports, amusement and recreation business

You run venues serving alcohol, host sports events, operate a pool, coach children, run rides, offer adventure activities or operate gaming machines

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources