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What this means for your business

10 obligations

11 penalties

10 can imprison

68 guides

Enforced by: HSE
Applies to: United Kingdom
On this page: 10 compliance obligations, 68 practical guides across 3 topics

Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

10 compliance obligations under this legislation — 10 can result in imprisonment.

Equipment and safety 1

You must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with, alter, remove or use in the wrong way any equipment, protective devices, signs or other items that have been provided to keep people safe at work. This means leaving safety guards, alarms, personal protective equipment, safety signage etc. exactly as supplied and using them only for their intended purpose. Breaching this duty can lead to criminal prosecution.

Any Person s.8 HSE

Management duties 4

If you design, make, import, supply or install any article or substance that will be used at work (including fair‑ground equipment), you must make sure it is safe for all stages of its life‑cycle. You also need to test it, carry out research to remove or minimise any risks, and give users clear information – and any updates – about how to use it safely.

Manufacturer/Importer s.6 HSE

If you control a non‑domestic building – for example as a landlord, owner, tenant or anyone with a maintenance contract – you must take all reasonably practicable steps to make sure the building, its entrances, exits and any equipment or substances you provide are safe for people who are not your employees. This duty covers anyone who uses the premises, such as customers, contractors or visitors.

Any Person s.4 HSE when non‑employees use premises, access routes or plant/substances that you control

If you run a business from premises that are listed by the HSE as a “prescribed class” and you handle substances that are classified as noxious or offensive, you must use the best practicable ways to stop those substances being released into the air. If anything does escape, you must have measures in place to safely capture or neutralise it, which includes using the plant correctly and supervising any emission‑producing operation.

Any Person s.5 HSE You control premises that are a prescribed class for harmful emissions and …

As an employer or self‑employed person you must run your business so that, as far as reasonably practicable, anyone who is not an employee – such as customers, visitors, neighbours or contractors – is not exposed to health or safety risks. Where the regulations require it, you must also give those people any prescribed information about how your activities might affect their safety.

Employer s.3 HSE

Payments and fees 1

You must provide any equipment, training, protective clothing or other items that the law requires for health and safety at no cost to your workers. This means you cannot deduct the price of such items from wages or make employees pay for them in any other way. Your business bears the full cost of complying with the statutory requirements.

Employer s.9 HSE Whenever you supply anything that is required by health and safety legislation …

Policies 1

As an employer you must do everything reasonably practicable to keep your staff safe and healthy at work. This means providing safe equipment and work systems, safe handling of substances, the right information, training and supervision, a safe workplace and access routes, and adequate welfare facilities. If you have five or more employees you also need a written health‑and‑safety policy that you keep up‑to‑date and share with everyone.

Employer s.2 HSE

Offences and prohibitions 1

If a health and safety offence by your company is proven to have been done with the consent, connivance, or due to the neglect of a director, manager, secretary or any similar officer (or a member acting as a director), that person is also guilty of the offence. They can be prosecuted personally and face the same penalties as the company, which may include unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment on indictment.

Director/Officer s.37 HSE

Reporting and filing 1

If the Health and Safety Executive (or another enforcing authority) sends you a notice asking for information, you must supply that information in the form, manner and time set out in the notice. This applies to any business or person that receives such a notice.

Any Person s.27 HSE You are served with a notice under s.27 requiring information

Training 1

Every employee must look after their own safety and the safety of anyone who could be affected by what they do (or don’t do) at work. They also have to cooperate with their employer on any statutory health‑and‑safety duties. As a business owner you should make sure your staff are aware of this duty and understand what is expected of them.

Employee s.7 HSE while at work