Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Mining Remediation Authority, National Highways, Natural England
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 6 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
6 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Inspections 2
Allow safety representatives to inspect your workplace and provide required facilities
If you have appointed a safety representative, you must let them enter and inspect any part of your premises after they give you reasonable written notice. You also have to give them any reasonable facilities, equipment or assistance they need to carry out the inspection, although you or a representative may stay in the area during the visit.
Provide facilities and assistance for safety reps to inspect after notifiable incidents
If a serious injury, notifiable accident, dangerous occurrence or disease happens at your workplace, safety representatives have the right to inspect the area to find out what caused it. You must give them the access, space and any other support they reasonably need to carry out that inspection, and you may be present during it.
Management duties 3
Consult safety representatives and provide needed facilities
You must involve your safety representatives early whenever you plan changes that could affect employees’ health and safety – such as new safety measures, staff appointments, training programmes, information provision or new technologies. You also have to give them the resources (room, time, equipment, support) they reasonably need to carry out their duties.
Establish a safety committee when requested by two safety representatives
If at least two safety representatives write to you asking for a safety committee, you must set one up. You need to consult the requesting representatives and any relevant trade‑union reps, display a notice of the committee’s make‑up and the workplaces it covers, and have the committee in place within three months of the request.
Provide safety representatives access to health & safety documents
Unlimited fineWhen a safety representative asks, you must let them inspect and copy any health and safety‑related documents you are legally required to keep, as long as they give reasonable notice. You can refuse only if the information falls under the specific exemptions listed (national security, legal prohibition, personal data without consent, commercial sensitivity, or legal proceedings).
Payments and fees 1
Allow safety representatives time off with pay
If you have appointed a safety representative, you must let them take the time off they need and pay them their normal wages. If you fail to do so, the safety rep can complain to an industrial tribunal, which may order you to pay compensation.
Penalties for non-compliance
1 penalty under this legislation. 1 carry an unlimited fine.
Provide safety representatives access to health & safety documents
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
16 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 6
- s.5 Inspections of the workplace
- s.6 Inspections following notifiable accidents, occurrences and diseases
- s.7 Inspection of documents and provision of information document relevant
- s.9 Safety committees
- s.11 Provisions as to industrial tribunals An industrial tribunal
- Employer’s duty to consult and provide facilities Employer’s duty to consult and provide facilities and assistance employer