Journey
Health and safety compliance checklist
Quick compliance checklist for experienced employers to verify they meet core HSE requirements. Covers legal duties, risk assessment, first aid, accident reporting, and record keeping.
Quick HSE compliance check
Use this checklist to verify your business meets core health and safety requirements. Designed for experienced employers who know the basics but want to confirm compliance.
Time needed: 10 minutes to review.
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Core legal duties
Check you meet these fundamental requirements under HASAWA 1974:
Your duties under HASAWA 1974
Full guide to employer duties under health and safety law
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Risk assessment
Verify your risk assessment is current and complete:
Conduct a workplace risk assessment
The 5-step process and when to review
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First aid provision
Check your first aid arrangements are adequate:
Provide first aid at work
First aid needs assessment and personnel requirements
- Low-risk office (under 25 staff)
- Appointed person + stocked first aid box
- Low-risk office (25-50 staff)
- At least 1 trained first aider (EFAW)
- Higher-risk workplace (5-50 staff)
- At least 1 first aider (FAW)
- Higher-risk workplace (50+ staff)
- 1 first aider per 50 workers
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Accident reporting (RIDDOR)
Verify your accident reporting is compliant:
Report workplace injuries under RIDDOR
What to report, reporting deadlines, and how to report
RIDDOR reporting deadlines
- Deaths and specified injuries
- Report immediately, written report within 10 days
- Over-7-day incapacitation
- Report within 15 days of accident
- Non-worker taken to hospital
- Report immediately if taken directly from site
- Dangerous occurrences
- Report immediately, written report within 10 days
- Occupational diseases
- Report when doctor confirms diagnosis
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Documentation and records
Check you maintain required records:
- Risk assessments
- No set legal period - good practice is while the work continues + 3 years
- Accident records
- 3 years from date of entry
- Health surveillance records
- 40 years (occupational diseases have long latency)
- Training records
- No set legal period - good practice is the duration of employment + 3 years
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Key thresholds and penalties
Know the thresholds that trigger additional requirements:
- 5+ employees
- Written H&S policy and recorded risk assessment required
- EL insurance penalty
- £2,500 per day without valid cover
- Crown Court penalties
- Unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment
- Fee for Intervention (FFI)
- £188/hour when HSE finds material breach (effective 1 April 2026)
- Sentencing guidelines
- Fines based on organisation turnover (micro to large)
Useful resources
hse.gov.uk
HSE risk assessment templates (opens in a new tab)
Free downloadable templates from the Health and Safety Executive
notifications.hse.gov.uk
Report a RIDDOR incident (opens in a new tab)
HSE online reporting system (24/7)
HSE guidance for employers (opens in a new tab)
Comprehensive health and safety guidance from HSE
Failed any checks?
If you identified gaps in compliance, take immediate action:
- Critical gaps (missing EL insurance, no risk assessment) - address immediately
- Documentation gaps (expired certificates, missing records) - schedule time this week
- Process gaps (untrained staff, no accident reporting process) - plan training
Comprehensive H&S compliance journey
Full journey covering all HSE regulations in detail