Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- HSE
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 70 practical guides across 3 topics
Penalties for non-compliance
17 penalties under this legislation. 17 can result in imprisonment. 17 carry an unlimited fine.
Appoint competent persons to help with health and safety
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Assess and manage risks for pregnant or new mothers
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Carry out suitable risk assessments and keep records
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Adjust or end agency work for pregnant/expectant mothers to remove risk
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Arrange contacts with external first‑aid and emergency services
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Base safety measures on the principles of prevention
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Co‑operate and coordinate health and safety with other workplace users
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Make and record health and safety arrangements
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Protect young persons from health and safety risks at work
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide appropriate health surveillance for employees
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Set up emergency procedures and train staff for danger areas
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Suspend night‑working expectant mothers if medically advised
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Use equipment safely and report hazards
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide employees (and parents of child workers) with health and safety information
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide clear health and safety information to outside workers and their employers
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide health‑and‑safety information to temporary workers
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide adequate health & safety training for all employees
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sector-Specific 41
Environmental compliance for construction sites
Your environmental obligations for construction sites including site waste management, environmental permits, dust control, and noise management.
Host weddings and events on your farm
How to set up and run a farm wedding or event venue. Covers planning permission, licensing, fire safety, …
Running a maritime business
How to register ships with the UK Ship Register and comply with maritime regulations. Covers ship registration, seafarer …
Get an operator's licence for goods vehicles
How to apply for an O-licence to operate goods vehicles for business. Covers Standard and Restricted licences, financial …
Hydrogen Production Licensing and Compliance
Licensing, safety, and environmental requirements for hydrogen production facilities in the UK. Includes Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard certification, …
Food safety management systems and HACCP
Implement HACCP-based food safety management procedures and comply with food hygiene regulations.
Food and drink business licensing and compliance
Navigate the complete range of licences, registrations, certifications, and consents required for food and drink businesses across production, …
Commercial fishing licence and compliance
How to get a commercial fishing licence and comply with UK fishing regulations. Covers vessel licensing, quota allocation, …
Safeguarding and mental capacity in healthcare
Legal duties for safeguarding vulnerable adults and making decisions for people who lack mental capacity.
Set up equestrian or livery services on your farm
How to comply with VAT, licensing, and insurance requirements when offering livery, riding lessons, or equestrian facilities. Covers …
Aviation cargo security compliance
How to become a Known Consignor or Regulated Agent for air cargo. Covers CAA certification, security vetting requirements, …
Vehicle Type Approval
Get type approval for vehicles manufactured or imported into GB.
Run an MOT Testing Station
Maintain DVSA compliance, manage testers, handle inspections, and avoid disciplinary action as an MOT Authorised Examiner.
Outdoor Learning and Forest School in Early Years
Requirements for outdoor learning and forest school provision in early years settings, including risk assessment, insurance, qualifications, and …
Comply with the EYFS Statutory Framework
How to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in your childcare setting. Covers safeguarding, staff ratios, …
COMAH Compliance for Chemical Sites
Meet COMAH requirements for sites holding dangerous substances.
Work safely in confined spaces on drainage projects
How to comply with the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 when working in manholes, sewers, chambers, and service ducts …
Set up camping or glamping on your farm
How to comply with planning permission, licensing, and safety requirements when offering camping or glamping on agricultural land. …
Construction Site Health and Safety
Essential health and safety requirements for construction sites including work at height, asbestos, manual handling, and PPE.
Comply with farming environmental regulations
How to comply with environmental regulations for fertiliser storage and application, pesticide use, cross-compliance standards, and nutrient management …
Drainage and utilities compliance checklist
Pre-start compliance checklist for drainage and utility infrastructure works. Covers Section 104 sewer adoption, Approved Document H, confined …
Transporting Dangerous Goods (ADR)
Comply with ADR regulations for transporting dangerous goods by road.
Food hygiene and HACCP
Implement food safety management procedures based on HACCP principles.
Start a construction business
Essential compliance requirements for starting a construction business in the UK, including CDM regulations, health and safety obligations, …
Get an electricity generation licence
How to determine if you need an electricity generation licence from Ofgem (GB) or the Utility Regulator (NI). …
Health, safety and fire requirements for hospitality venues
Health and Safety at Work Act compliance, fire safety risk assessments, and fire safety certification for hospitality premises …
Join the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway
How to join the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, a government programme that funds annual vet reviews and …
Farm machinery safety
Legal requirements and practical guidance for safe use of farm machinery. Covers PUWER and LOLER compliance, tractor safety, …
Understand your farm's regulatory obligations
A regulatory map for UK farms, showing which of 10+ regulatory bodies apply by farm type. Links to …
Keep children safe on farms
Legal requirements and practical guidance for protecting children on farms. Covers age restrictions for farm work and machinery, …
Farm health and safety essentials
Essential health and safety requirements for farmers and farm workers. Covers legal duties, risk assessment, the top causes …
Use mobile work equipment safely
How to comply with PUWER Regulations 25-30 for mobile work equipment such as forklift trucks, dumpers, excavators, and …
Control respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust in the workplace
How to identify and control silica dust exposure in your workplace. Covers COSHH assessment for RCS, the workplace …
Food safety requirements in Scotland
How food safety regulation differs in Scotland. Covers Food Standards Scotland, CookSafe, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, and …
Annual retail compliance checklist
Quick annual compliance verification for established retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing, age verification, data protection, Sunday trading, fire …
Health and safety for retail premises
Retail-specific health and safety obligations. Covers lone working, violence prevention, manual handling, display screen equipment, fire safety, first …
Healthcare premises and equipment requirements
CQC Regulation 15 premises and equipment requirements, radiation protection under IRR 2017, healthcare ventilation, medical gas systems, decontamination …
Infection prevention and control for healthcare providers
How to meet infection prevention and control (IPC) requirements under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code …
Accommodation regulations for hotels, B&Bs, and short-term lets
Comprehensive guide to UK accommodation regulation covering tourist accommodation registration, short-term lets rules, fire safety for sleeping accommodation, …
Holiday let safety requirements and compliance
Health and safety requirements for self-catering holiday accommodation. Covers fire safety, gas safety, electrical safety, legionella prevention, risk …
Holiday let food hygiene, employment and insurance
Food hygiene, employment law, insurance, and environmental duties for self-catering holiday accommodation. Covers food business registration, allergens, food …
Compliance & Legal 28
How to conduct a fire risk assessment
A step-by-step guide to conducting a fire risk assessment for your business premises. Covers who is responsible, the …
Fire safety duties for landlords of residential properties
Your legal duties as a landlord to protect tenants from fire. Covers smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, HMO …
Comply with fire safety law as the responsible person
Your legal duties as a responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Covers fire risk …
Manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings
Legal duties for managing asbestos in commercial premises, including survey requirements, licensing thresholds, and the duty to manage …
Provide first aid at work
How to meet your legal duties under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Covers needs assessment, first …
Establish emergency procedures for your workplace
Your legal duties under MHSWR 1999 Regulations 8-9 to establish procedures for serious and imminent danger. Covers emergency …
Manage work-related stress
How to assess and manage work-related stress using the HSE Management Standards approach. Covers the 6 standards, stress …
Manage workplace risk assessments under MHSW 1999
Your legal duties for risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Covers …
Keep lone workers safe
How to protect employees who work alone or without close supervision. Covers risk assessment, control measures, communication systems, …
Health and safety for small businesses
A simplified guide to health and safety compliance for businesses with fewer than 5 employees. Covers what you …
Comply with work equipment safety regulations (PUWER)
How to meet your legal duties under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Covers …
Meet fire safety requirements for your business premises
How to comply with fire safety law for your business premises. Covers who is the responsible person, conducting …
Health and safety requirements by business size
How H&S obligations scale as your business grows. Covers risk assessment, written policy, first aid, RIDDOR reporting, training, …
Health and safety basics
Essential health and safety requirements for all employers.
Conducting risk assessments
How to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and implement controls using the 5-step risk assessment process.
COSHH - hazardous substances
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - assessing and controlling workplace chemical and biological hazards.
Appoint a competent person for health and safety
Your legal duty to appoint a competent person to help with health and safety under the Management of …
Your duties as an employer under health and safety law
Understanding your fundamental legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Covers employer duties …
Comply with COSHH regulations for hazardous substances
How to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Step-by-step guide to COSHH assessment, …
Health surveillance at work
When health surveillance is legally required at work and how to set it up. Covers COSHH hazardous substances, …
Meet your workplace health and safety legal obligations
Understanding your fundamental health and safety duties under UK law. Covers key legislation including HASAWA 1974, risk assessment …
Principles of prevention and hierarchy of controls
The legal basis for the hierarchy of controls in UK health and safety law. Explains the 9 general …
MHSWR 1999 compliance checklist
Audit-ready compliance checklist covering all key duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. …
Checklist for employing young persons safely
Compliance checklist for employers of workers under 18. Covers the specific risk assessment factors under MHSWR 1999 Regulation …
Provide health and safety information to employees
Your legal duty under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 10 to provide comprehensible and relevant health and safety information to …
Health and safety training requirements under MHSWR
Your legal duty under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 13 to provide adequate health and safety training. Covers the five …
Health and safety duties for temporary and agency workers
Your legal duties under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 15 when using temporary or agency workers. Covers the split of …
Health and safety in shared workplaces
Your legal duties under MHSWR 1999 Regulations 11-12 when sharing a workplace with other employers. Covers cooperation, coordination, …
Sections and provisions
34 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 19
- s.3 Risk assessment employer
- s.4 Principles of prevention to be applied
- s.5 Health and safety arrangements employer
- s.6 Health surveillance employer
- s.7 Health and safety assistance The employer
- s.8 Procedures for serious and imminent danger and for danger areas area occupied by him
- s.9 Contacts with external services employer
- s.10 Information for employees employer
- s.11 Co-operation and co-ordination
- s.12 Persons working in host employers’ or self-employed persons’ undertakings
- s.13 Capabilities and training employer
- s.14 Employees’ duties employee
- s.15 Temporary workers employer
- s.16 Risk assessment in respect of new or expectant mothers
- s.17 Certificate from registered medical practitioner in respect of new or expectant mothers
- s.19 Protection of young persons employer
- s.22 Restriction of civil liability for breach of statutory duty
- Alteration of working conditions in respect of new Alteration of working conditions in respect of new or expectant mothers (agency workers)
- Certificate from registered medical practitioner i Certificate from registered medical practitioner in respect of new or expectant mothers (agency workers)
Definitions 3
- Schedule 2 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS , there shall be substituted “ regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and particulars of the arrangements he has made in accordance with regulation 5(1) thereof. ”.The Suspension from Work (on Maternity Grounds) Order 1994*S.I. 1994/2930.In article 1(2)(b) for ““the 1992 Regulations , there shall be substituted, “ “the 1999 Regulations , there shall be substituted “ regulation 17 of the 1999 Regulations ”.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .The Escape and Rescue from Mines Regulations 1995S.I. 1995/2870.In regulation 2(1) for ““the 1992 Regulations
- s.20 Exemption certificates has the same meaning as in section 12(1) of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 ; b) “headquarters
- s.30 Transitional provision