The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the main law on workplace health and safety in Great Britain. It sets the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and of others affected by work activities. Northern Ireland has its own equivalent, the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
- Legal status
- Primary legislation (Great Britain)
- 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
- Employers, employees, some self-employed people, controllers of premises
- Primary duty (Section 2)
- Employees' health, safety and welfare, so far as reasonably practicable
- Duty to non-employees (Section 3)
- Contractors, visitors and the public affected by your work
- Employee duties (Sections 7-8)
- Take reasonable care, co-operate, do not misuse safety equipment
- Enforcement authority
- HSE and local authorities
- Maximum penalties
- Unlimited fine; up to 2 years' imprisonment
- Secondary regulations
- Basis for MHSWR 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling and others
The Act uses the phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. You must weigh the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. The test is weighted in favour of health and safety: a control measure is only not reasonably practicable if its cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.
If you are self-employed and your work is of a description prescribed in regulations, the Act requires you to protect yourself and others who may be affected by your work. Self-employed people whose work poses no risk to others are generally outside this duty.