Fire safety for Resident Management Companies
- 2 steps
UK Act of Parliament
1974
United Kingdom
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
At a glance
What's here
23 compliance obligations, 247 practical guides across 5 topics · 58 journeys · 28 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
11 of 23 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 1 carries different penalties and 11 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 8
- Employer 2
- Self-Employed Person 1
- Director or Officer 1
- Employee 1
Plus 10 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Building compliance quick check
- 5 steps
Fire safety for new business premises
- 4 steps
Fire safety for multi-occupied residential buildings
- 1 step
Start using AI responsibly in your business
- 1 step
CDM compliance quick check
- 5 steps
- 1 requirement
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
33 guidesAppoint a competent person for health and safety
Building compliance checklist for business premises
Building services compliance: what you need to know
Commercial kitchen safety: gas, ventilation, and legionella
Comply with CDM Regulations for construction projects
Construction materials compliance checklist
Crane and lifting operations for structural work
Drainage and utilities compliance checklist
Supporting — topic alignment
202 guidesMentioned in related content
12 guides- Accommodation regulations for hotels, B&Bs, and short-term lets
- Annual retail compliance checklist
- Appoint a Principal Designer
- CDM 2015: your duties as a construction client
- Comply with fire safety law as the responsible person
- Create a construction phase plan
- Fire safety duties for landlords of residential properties
- How to conduct a fire risk assessment
- Manage the CDM health and safety file
- Meet fire safety requirements for your business premises
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 12 duties
- The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 2010 7 duties
- The General Chiropractic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015 2015 5 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Employees also bound by 182 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 12 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Health, Safety and Welfare in connection with Work, and Control of Dangerous Substances and Certain Emissions into the Atmosphere
General duties of employers to their employees.
2 years imprisonment- Protect the health, safety, and welfare of all employees Employer
General duties of employers and self-employed to persons other than their employees.
2 years imprisonment- Protect the health and safety of non-employees and the public Self-Employed Person
General duties of persons concerned with premises to persons other than their employees.
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safety of premises for non-employees and the public Any Person
General duty of persons in control of certain premises in relation to harmful emissions into atmosphere.
2 years imprisonment- Prevent and minimize harmful emissions from business premises Any Person
General duties of manufacturers etc. as regards articles and substances for use at work.
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safety of products, equipment, and substances supplied for work Any Person
General duties of employees at work.
2 years imprisonment- Take reasonable care for health and safety and cooperate with employer Employee
Duty not to interfere with or misuse things provided pursuant to certain provisions.
2 years imprisonment- Do not interfere with or misuse safety equipment Any Person
Duty not to charge employees for things done or provided pursuant to certain specific requirements.
Unlimited fine- Do not charge employees for health and safety requirements Employer
Functions of the Executive.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HSE must provide information, training, and advisory services Statutory regulator
Authorities responsible for enforcement of the relevant statutory provisions.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators and local authorities must arrange for health and safety enforcement Statutory regulator
Obtaining of information by the Commission, the Executive, enforcing authorities etc.
2 years imprisonment- Provide information when served with an HSE notice Any Person
Offences
- Commit a health and safety offence Any Person
Offences due to fault of other person.
2 years imprisonment- Cause another person to commit an health and safety offence Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate.
2 years imprisonment- Personal liability of directors and managers for company safety breaches Director or Officer
Financial provisions.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State may set fees for health and safety services Crown / Minister / Government department
Application of Part to police.
2 years imprisonment- Police leadership liability for health and safety breaches Any Person
Browse 42 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Preliminary.
Establishment of the Executive.
Powers of the Executive: buildings in England
Control of the Executive by the Secretary of State.
Powers of the Executive.
Power of the Commission to direct investigations and inquiries.
Health and safety regulations.
Approval of codes of practice by the Executive.
Use of approved codes of practice in criminal proceedings.
Appointment of inspectors.
Powers of inspectors.
Improvement notices.
Prohibition notices.
Provisions supplementary to ss. 21 and 22.
Appeal against improvement or prohibition notice.
Power to deal with cause of imminent danger.
Power of customs officer to detain articles and substances.
Power of enforcing authorities to indemnify their inspectors.
Information communicated by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs.
Restrictions on disclosure of information.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Agricultural health and safety regulations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Extension of time for bringing summary proceedings.
Venue.
Restrictions on institution of proceedings in England and Wales.
Prosecutions by inspectors.
Onus of proving limits of what is practicable etc.
Evidence.
Power of court to order cause of offence to be remedied or, in certain cases, forfeiture.
Railway safety levy
Appeals in connection with licensing provisions in the relevant statutory provisions.
Default powers.
Service of notices.
Civil liability.
Application to Crown.
Adaptation of enactments to metric units or appropriate metric units.
Regulations under the relevant statutory provisions.
Exclusion of application to domestic employment.
Meaning of work and at work.
General interpretation of Part I.
Application of Part I to Isles of Scilly.
Part II — The Employment Medical Advisory Service
Functions of, and responsibility for maintaining, employment medical advisory service.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must maintain the Employment Medical Advisory Service Crown / Minister / Government department
Functions of authority responsible for maintaining the service.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must appoint and qualify employment medical advisers Crown / Minister / Government department
Other financial provisions.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must fund the employment medical advisory service Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty of responsible authority to keep accounts and to report.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authority must keep accounts and report on medical advisory services Statutory regulator
Supplementary.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure access to school medical records Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Fees.
Part III — Building Regulations, and Amendment of Building (Scotland) Act 1959
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Miscellaneous provisions as to the approval of plans.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Power to make building regulations for Inner London.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Amendment of Building (Scotland) Act 1959.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Part IV — Miscellaneous and General
Amendment of Radiological Protection Act 1970.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- National Radiological Protection Board must consult HSE and follow its policies Statutory regulator
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Amendment of Fire Precautions Act 1971.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
General power to repeal or modify Acts and instruments.
Expenses and receipts.
General provisions as to interpretation and regulations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Extent, and application of Act.
Short title and commencement.
Schedules
Additional Provisions Relating to the Constitution etc. of the Health and Safety Executive
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HSE must publish accounts and annual performance reports Statutory regulator
Browse 55 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Subject-Matter of Health and Safety Regulations
Existing Enactments which are Relevant Statutory Provisions
The Executive shall consist of— (a) the Chair of the...
(1) It shall be the duty of the Chief Executive—...
The Secretary of State shall not make any determination or...
(1) The fixing of the common seal of the Executive...
(1) The Secretary of State shall appoint the Chair of...
Subject to paragraphs 4 , 4A and 5, a person...
The Chair or any other member of the Executive ,...
(1) An ONR member may at any time resign from...
The Secretary of State may remove a Chair or other...
(1) The Executive shall pay — (a) to each member,...
(1) The Executive may regulate its own procedure.
(1) The Executive shall, with the consent of the Secretary...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (4), anything authorised or...
(1) Regulating or prohibiting— (a) the manufacture, supply or use...
Securing the provision of specified welfare facilities for persons at...
Imposing requirements with respect to the provision and use in...
Requiring in specified circumstances the taking of specified precautions in...
(1) Prohibiting or imposing requirements in connection with the emission...
Imposing requirements with respect to the instruction, training and supervision...
(1) Requiring in specified circumstances, specified matters to be notified...
Imposing requirements with respect to the keeping and preservation of...
Imposing requirements with respect to the management of animals.
The following purposes as regards premises of any specified description...
Conferring, in specified circumstances involving a risk of fire or...
(1) Prohibiting the importation into the United Kingdom or the...
Restricting, prohibiting or requiring the doing of any specified thing...
As regards cases of any specified class, being a class...
Conferring on any local or public authority power to make...
(1) In this Schedule “specified” means specified in health and...
(1) Prohibiting or regulating the transport of articles or substances...
(1) Prohibiting the carrying on of any specified activity or...
Requiring any person, premises or thing to be registered in...
(1) Requiring, in specified circumstances, the appointment (whether in a...
Regulating or prohibiting the employment in specified circumstances of all...
(1) Requiring the making of arrangements for securing the health...
Imposing requirements with respect to any matter affecting the conditions...
OFFENCES: MODE OF TRIAL AND MAXIMUM PENALTY
The mode of trial and maximum penalty applicable to each...
(1) This paragraph makes transitional modifications of the table as...
In section 3 (building standards regulations)— (a) in subsection (2),...
In section 4 (relaxation of building standards regulations)—
After subsection 4A, there shall be inserted the following section—...
In section 6 (application of building standards regulations and building...
In section 9 (certificates of completion)— (a) in subsection (2),...
In section 11(1)(b) (power of local authorities to require buildings...
In section 19 (penalties), for the words “ten pounds” and...
After section 19 there shall be inserted the following section—...
In section 26 (Crown rights)— (a) in subsection (1) after...
Transitional Provisions with respect to Fire Certificates under Factories Act 1961 or Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963
In this Schedule— “ the 1971 Act ” means the...
(1) Where by virtue of an order under section 1...
The Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926
In section 1392)(c) of the Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926 (by...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- 1. Responsibility for load security (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- Records Retention Schedule - Facilities function (opens in a new tab) from Gambling Commission Detailed Guidance
- Register a food business (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Employers' liability insurance guidance (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSE — petrol filling stations and petroleum storage (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Private water supplies (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Adventure activities licensing (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Caravan site licences (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Transport legislation | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- ... and 457 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
HSE
PrimaryHealth and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
Local Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
North Sea Transition Authority
Licenses and regulates the UK oil and gas, offshore hydrogen, and carbon storage industries. Issues petroleum production licences and CO2 storage licences. …
Office for Nuclear Regulation
Independent regulator for nuclear safety and security. Issues nuclear site licences. Regulates nuclear installations, transport, and safeguards.
Building Safety Regulator
Regulates building safety for higher-risk buildings (18+ metres or 7+ storeys with at least 2 residential units) in England. Established under the …
Office of Rail and Road
Independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways. Regulates health and safety for the mainline rail network, London Underground, light rail, trams, …
Connected legislation
28 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (28)
- Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 1977
- The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 1996
- The Mines Miscellaneous Health and Safety Provisions Regulations 1995 1995
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 2022
- Gas Safety (Management) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 2023
- Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 2017
- The Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Amendment) Regulations 2019 2019
- The Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals (Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2015 2015
- The Construction Plant and Equipment (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 1992
- The Construction Plant and Equipment (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 1995
- The Construction Plant and Equipment (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) (Extension to Northern Ireland) Regulations 1992 1992
- The Construction Plant and Equipment (Harmonization of Noise Emission Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1989 1989
- The Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 1994 1994
- The Diving Operations at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1992 1992
- The Explosives Regulations 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2016 2016
+ 13 more statutory instruments
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.