Division 84
Public Administration & Defence
Requirements for all public administration & defence
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 body's activities. Public bodies are employers and premises occupiers like any other organisation. Devolved: Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Enforced by HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Required for any body employing staff. Note: the Crown and certain public bodies are exempt from the compulsory-insurance requirement (they self-insure under Crown indemnity), but local authorities and arm's-length public bodies must hold cover.
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Public administration processes extensive personal data (citizens, claimants, staff). ICO registration unless exempt, plus the law-enforcement and intelligence-services processing regimes in DPA 2018 Parts 3 and 4 for justice, policing and defence bodies.
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by EHRC
Equality Act 2010
No discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment or in services to the public. Public authorities also carry the enhanced public sector equality duty (s149) when exercising their functions — see the industry coverage note.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The 'responsible person' for any non-domestic premises (offices, courts, depots, barracks' civilian estate) must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire-safety arrangements. Devolved: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.