Journey
Health and safety for new employers
A comprehensive learning path to help first-time employers understand and meet their health and safety duties. Takes you from understanding the law to putting compliance systems in place, with practical timelines for your first week, month, and beyond.
Welcome to your health and safety responsibilities
Congratulations on hiring your first employee. Along with the benefits of growing your team comes an important responsibility: keeping your people safe at work.
Health and safety law applies from your very first employee, whether they work full-time, part-time, or casually. This learning path will guide you through what you need to know and do, step by step.
The good news: for most small businesses, H&S compliance is straightforward and does not require expensive consultants or complicated systems.
Your first week, first month, and ongoing
Here is a realistic timeline for getting your H&S compliance in place:
Phase 1: Understand your legal duties
Before taking any action, it is important to understand the legal framework. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the foundation of UK workplace safety law. It has applied to every employer for 50 years.
The key principle is that you must protect your employees and others "so far as is reasonably practicable". This means taking sensible, proportionate steps based on your actual risks - not gold-plating everything regardless of cost.
Your duties as an employer under health and safety law
Understand your core legal duties under HASAWA 1974, including what 'reasonably practicable' means and when you need a written policy
Phase 2: Assess your situation
Now you understand the legal framework, the next step is to understand what applies to your specific business. Not all requirements are the same for all employers - some depend on your workplace, activities, and number of employees.
Key questions to answer
- How many employees will you have? Written policy and recorded risk assessments are only mandatory with 5+ employees, but the underlying duties apply from employee one.
- What are your workplace hazards? An office has different risks from a construction site or restaurant kitchen.
- Do you control the premises? If you work from client sites or shared spaces, responsibilities may be shared.
Health and safety for small businesses
Simplified guide specifically for businesses with fewer than 5 employees - what you must do, what you can skip, and free HSE tools
Phase 3: Set up your compliance foundations
Now it is time to put systems in place. These are the foundational actions that establish your H&S compliance. Do these before your first employee starts work, or as soon as possible if they have already started.
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Get employers' liability insurance
This is your first legal requirement and must be in place before your first employee starts.
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Conduct your first risk assessment
Risk assessment is the foundation of everything else. It tells you what hazards exist in your workplace and what you need to do about them.
For most small businesses, a basic risk assessment takes 30-60 minutes. You do not need to be an expert - you know your workplace better than anyone.
Manage workplace risk assessments under MHSW 1999
Detailed guide to conducting and recording risk assessments, including the nine principles of prevention and when to review
hse.gov.uk
HSE risk assessment templates (opens in a new tab)
Free downloadable templates for common workplace types - offices, shops, warehouses, and more
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Set up first aid provision
Every workplace needs first aid arrangements. What you need depends on your workplace hazards and number of employees.
Provide first aid at work
How to assess your first aid needs, what equipment to provide, and what training your first aiders need
For small, low-risk workplaces (offices, shops):
- Appointed person: Someone who takes charge in an emergency and calls for help. No formal training required, but first aid awareness is recommended.
- First aid kit: A basic kit with plasters, bandages, sterile dressings, and disposable gloves. Available for under £20.
- Information: Tell employees where the kit is and who the appointed person is.
For higher-risk workplaces: You may need trained first aiders even with few employees. Use the HSE needs assessment to determine your requirements.
HSE first aid needs assessment tool (opens in a new tab)
Work out what first aid provision you need based on your workplace size and risks
Phase 4: Meet your ongoing obligations
Once the foundations are in place, you have ongoing duties to maintain compliance. These are not one-off tasks but continuing responsibilities.
Accident recording and reporting
You must keep records of work-related accidents and ill health. Serious incidents must be reported to HSE under RIDDOR.
Report a workplace injury, disease or dangerous occurrence under RIDDOR
What incidents you must report to HSE, when to report, and how - includes the over-7-day incapacity rule explained clearly
Information, instruction, and training
You must ensure employees understand the risks they face and how to work safely.
Consultation with employees
You must consult employees on health and safety matters. This means discussing risks, proposed changes to procedures, and how safety arrangements are working.
For small businesses without trade union representatives, this can be as simple as regular conversations with your team. Employees often know where the real risks are - listening to them improves safety and shows you take their welfare seriously.
Phase 5: Check your compliance
Use this checklist to verify you have met your key health and safety duties. Review this periodically and whenever your business changes.
Week 1 checklist
Month 1 checklist
Ongoing compliance checklist
Summary: Your next steps
You now have a clear path to health and safety compliance. Here is your priority order:
- Immediately: Get employers' liability insurance before your first employee starts
- Week 1: Walk through your workplace and complete a basic risk assessment. Set up first aid and get an accident book.
- Month 1: Write your H&S policy (if 5+ employees), complete employee induction training, and establish safe working procedures.
- Ongoing: Review assessments regularly, record accidents, keep training up to date, and consult with your team.
HSE Simple Health and Safety (opens in a new tab)
Free guidance, templates, and tools designed specifically for small businesses