Libraries, Museums & Heritage

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties

Enforced by HSE

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Operators of public-facing premises (reading rooms, galleries, visitor attractions, gardens) must protect employees and visitors from risk — premises, displays, manual handling of collections, visitor circulation. Devolved: enforced in Northern Ireland under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969

Enforced by HSE

Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969

Required for any business employing at least one person, including seasonal, casual and volunteer-supported cultural-sector staff where an employment relationship exists.

UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018

Enforced by ICO

Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)

Operators process member, reader, donor and visitor data (library memberships, ticketing, mailing lists, archive enquiry records). ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.

Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics

Enforced by EHRC

Equality Act 2010

Service providers must not discriminate and must make reasonable adjustments for disabled visitors (accessible entrances, large-print/assistive provision, step-free routes to galleries and gardens). Applies to employment, services to the public and premises. Devolved: equivalent duties in Northern Ireland under separate anti-discrimination legislation.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The 'responsible person' for any non-domestic premises (libraries, archives, galleries, historic houses, visitor centres) must carry out and maintain a fire risk assessment; heritage premises and large public collections raise the relevance. Devolved: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.