Running a veterinary practice means holding the right professional registration, managing medicines and controlled drugs safely, disposing of clinical waste lawfully, and — if you have imaging equipment — complying with ionising-radiation controls. On top of that, every business that employs people must meet workplace health and safety, COSHH, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection obligations.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) operate UK-wide. Workplace health and safety is enforced by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland. Waste and environmental duties are devolved across the four nations.

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 practice, then follow the guides in order.

1

Every veterinary practice

Start with the universal workplace duties. Follow "Set up and run a safe veterinary practice" for your health and safety, COSHH controls on anaesthetic gases and chemicals, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection obligations.
2

You practise veterinary surgery, supply medicines, handle controlled drugs, dispose of clinical waste or use X-ray equipment

You must be RCVS-registered, comply with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, manage clinical waste through registered carriers, and — if you stock controlled drugs or use imaging equipment — meet those specific duties. Follow "Meet your veterinary practice regulatory duties".
3

Confirm you have covered everything

Work through the veterinary compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for veterinary practices.

RCVS: registration and standards (opens in a new tab) RCVS
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk

Which veterinary regulations apply to your practice

Veterinary practice compliance checklist

Fire safety duties for Northern Ireland businesses

Fire safety duties for Scottish businesses

Set up a limited company

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register requirements

What you need to do

Every veterinary practice

You practise veterinary surgery, supply medicines, handle controlled drugs, dispose of clinical waste or use X-ray equipment

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Veterinary practice compliance checklist

Fire safety duties for Northern Ireland businesses

Fire safety duties for Scottish businesses

Set up a limited company

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register requirements

What you need to do

Every veterinary practice

You practise veterinary surgery, supply medicines, handle controlled drugs, dispose of clinical waste or use X-ray equipment

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources