What are the main health and safety regulations in the UK?

The UK has a comprehensive set of health and safety laws and regulations designed to protect employees, employers, visitors, contractors and members of the public from workplace accidents, injuries and occupational illnesses.

The main legislation is based on the principle that employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment, while employees also have responsibilities to work safely.

Main UK health and safety legislation

Here are the most important regulations you should know about:

Legislation	What it covers
1. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)	The main UK workplace health and safety law. Requires employers to protect employees and others affected by their business activities.
2. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999	Requires employers to carry out risk assessments, implement safety measures and provide appropriate training.
3. COSHH Regulations 2002	Controls exposure to hazardous substances, including chemicals, dust, fumes and biological agents.
4. PUWER 1998	Ensures work equipment and machinery are suitable, safe, maintained and properly used.
5. LOLER 1998	Covers the safe use, inspection and examination of lifting equipment, such as cranes, hoists and lifts.
6. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992	Protects workers against injuries caused by lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads.
7. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992	Covers workplace conditions, including lighting, ventilation, temperature, cleanliness, toilets and drinking water.
8. PPE at Work Regulations 1992, as amended in 2022	Requires suitable personal protective equipment, such as safety helmets, gloves, goggles and protective footwear, where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
9. RIDDOR 2013	Requires employers and other responsible persons to report certain workplace injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences.
10. Work at Height Regulations 2005	Prevents falls when employees work on ladders, scaffolding, roofs and other elevated areas.
11. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989	Requires electrical systems and equipment to be maintained and used safely.
12. Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992	Protects workers who regularly use computers and display screens by requiring suitable workstation assessments and breaks or changes of activity.
13. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012	Controls exposure to asbestos and requires appropriate management and precautions.
14. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005	Requires appropriate fire risk assessments, fire precautions and emergency arrangements in England and Wales.

These regulations work alongside the main 1974 Act to cover specific workplace hazards and activities.

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Main responsibilities of employers

Under UK health and safety legislation, employers generally must:

Carry out suitable and sufficient workplace risk assessments.
Provide a safe working environment.
Supply appropriate safety equipment and PPE.
Provide health and safety training and supervision.
Maintain machinery, tools and workplace equipment.
Provide adequate first-aid facilities.
Establish emergency and fire evacuation procedures.
Report specified workplace accidents and incidents.
Consult employees about health and safety matters.
Review and update safety policies and procedures.

Responsibilities of employees

Employees also have legal responsibilities. They must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
Avoid putting colleagues and other people at risk.
Follow safety instructions and procedures.
Use PPE correctly.
Attend required safety training.
Report accidents, hazards and unsafe working conditions.
Cooperate with their employer on health and safety matters.

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Who enforces health and safety regulations?

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) – SSIP

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The HSE is the main health and safety regulator in Great Britain. It investigates workplace accidents, inspects workplaces and can take enforcement action, including issuing improvement or prohibition notices and prosecuting serious breaches.

Local authorities also enforce health and safety laws in certain workplaces, such as shops, offices, restaurants and leisure facilities.

Northern Ireland has a separate regulator, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

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What happens if an organisation breaks these regulations?

Failure to comply with UK health and safety legislation can result in:

Improvement notices requiring an organisation to correct safety problems.
Prohibition notices stopping dangerous activities.
Financial penalties and prosecution.
Unlimited fines for certain offences.
Imprisonment for individuals in serious cases.
Reputational damage and compensation claims.

Summary: The most important regulations to remember

If you are studying health and safety or preparing for a UK workplace health and safety qualification, concentrate particularly on these five:

HASAWA 1974 – Overall legal framework for workplace health and safety.
Management Regulations 1999 – Risk assessments and safety management.
COSHH 2002 – Hazardous substances.
PUWER 1998 – Work equipment and machinery.
RIDDOR 2013 – Reporting workplace accidents and incidents.

Important: Health and safety legislation is not identical across the whole UK. Great Britain and Northern Ireland have separate legal frameworks in some areas, and fire safety legislation also differs between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For authoritative guidance, the main reference is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).