Division 15
Leather & Footwear
Requirements for all leather & footwear
These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to protect employees and others affected by the business — factory floors, finishing shops, machinery and chemical handling across all leather and footwear manufacturing.
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Enforced by HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Required for any business employing at least one person.
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Applies to any business processing personal data (staff, customers, suppliers). ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by EHRC
Equality Act 2010
No discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment or in services and premises across the nine protected characteristics.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire precautions — material on the elevated fire load of solvents, finishes and stored hides/leather. Devolved variants: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Enforced by HSE
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Assess and control exposure to hazardous substances used throughout the industry — tanning agents (chromium salts), biocides, dyes, solvent-based adhesives and finishing chemicals. Northern Ireland: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (NI) 2003.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Enforced by HSE
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Machinery used across tanning drums, splitting/shaving machines, cutting presses, stitching and lasting machines must be suitable, maintained and guarded, with operators trained.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Enforced by HSE
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Assess and reduce manual handling risks from moving wet hides, leather bundles and material rolls — a recognised musculoskeletal risk in the sector. Northern Ireland: Manual Handling Operations Regulations (NI) 1992.
General Product Safety Regulations 2005
Enforced by OPSS
General Product Safety Regulations 2005
Consumer leather goods, bags and footwear placed on the market must be safe; enforced by OPSS and local Trading Standards. The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 provides powers to update the product-safety framework — monitor for replacement regulations.
UK REACH — chromium VI restriction in leather articles
Enforced by HSE
UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law)
UK REACH (retained Regulation (EC) 1907/2006) Annex XVII restricts chromium VI in leather articles that come into contact with skin to below 3 mg/kg. Binds anyone placing leather articles on the market — tanneries and downstream footwear/luggage/glove makers alike — plus SVHC notification and registration duties for substances used. HSE is the UK REACH Agency; Environment Agency advises on environmental aspects. Northern Ireland follows EU REACH under the Windsor Framework.