Health and safety obligations grow with your business
Your core duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply from your first employee. But as your headcount increases, additional obligations kick in at specific thresholds. Missing these triggers can mean non-compliance without realising it.
This learning path explains what changes at each size threshold and how to prepare before you reach them.
Phase 1: The scaling framework
Health and safety law does not treat all employers equally. The principle of "reasonably practicable" means that what is expected of you scales with the size and complexity of your business. A 200-person manufacturer faces different expectations than a 3-person consultancy, even though the same law applies to both.
Your duties as an employer under health and safety law
The baseline legal duties that apply from your first employee regardless of business size
Phase 2: Key employee thresholds
Identify which threshold your business is approaching or has already passed. Each threshold brings specific new requirements.
Health and safety for small businesses
Simplified guidance for businesses with fewer than 5 employees, including what you can skip and free HSE tools
Phase 3: Prepare before you reach the threshold
The most common compliance failure is discovering a new obligation after you have already passed the trigger point. Build these requirements into your growth planning.
Manage workplace risk assessments under MHSW 1999
How to conduct, record, and review risk assessments as your business grows and hazards change
Phase 4: Ongoing obligations as you scale
Larger businesses face greater scrutiny. HSE's Fee for Intervention scheme means that if an inspector finds a material breach, you pay for their time at the current hourly rate. Proactive compliance is cheaper than reactive enforcement.
Health and safety requirements by business size
Quick reference for what obligations apply at each employee count threshold
Phase 5: Check your readiness
Use these questions to assess whether your health and safety arrangements match your current size:
- Do you have a written H&S policy? (Required at 5+ employees)
- Are your risk assessments recorded in writing? (Required at 5+ employees)
- Do you consult employees on health and safety matters?
- Is your competent person arrangement still adequate for your current size and risk profile?
- Are your training records up to date for all employees?
- When did you last review your risk assessments?
If you answered "no" or "I'm not sure" to any of these, use the signposted guides above to address the gaps before your next threshold.