HSE inspections up 47% - HSE carried out over 13,200 workplace inspections in 2024/25.
UK Health & Safety Legislation
HSWA 1974, RIDDOR, COSHH & Regulations Guide
Complete guide to UK health and safety law: employer responsibilities, penalties, corporate manslaughter, RIDDOR reporting & compliance
Expert guidance on the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, MHSWR 1999, COSHH, DSE, Manual Handling, Fire Safety Order, and international frameworks.
Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia & Other Key Markets
Health & Safety legislation exists to prevent harm and ill health at work, setting out employer responsibilities, worker duties, and penalties for non-compliance under health and safety law.
Across different countries, the legal systems differ, but the core idea remains the same: employers must proactively manage risk, protect workers and others, and demonstrate compliance.
Because UK Health & Safety law is widely regarded as one of the most mature and risk-based frameworks, many organisations use it as a benchmark when designing global compliance systems.
Health & Safety legislation sets out:
- Who must manage risk
- What duties they have
- How risk must be assessed and controlled
- What training and information must be provided
- How incidents must be reported
Across jurisdictions, this can include:
- Employer duties
- Employee duties
- Competent person requirements
- Training and supervision
- Recordkeeping and reporting
Primary Legislation
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – the fundamental piece of UK legislation setting out general duties on employers and workers alike.
Health and Safety ExecutiveEmployee Thresholds
- 1+ employees → general statutory duties apply
- 5+ employees → written Health & Safety policy required
- A competent person is required regardless of size
Key Requirements
- Suitable and sufficient risk assessments
- Appointment of a competent person
- Health and safety policy (5+ employees must be in writing)
- Display the health and safety law poster or provide leaflet
- Safe systems of work
- Information, training and supervision
- Fire risk assessment (Fire Safety Order)
- Incident reporting (RIDDOR — Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences)
Secondary Regulations (Common Examples)
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR)
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- PUWER 1998
- COSHH Regulations 2002
- DSE Regulations 1992
- Noise at Work Regulations 2005
- PPE at Work Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989
These regulations support the core duties and address specific hazards.
Why the UK Is Seen as the Leading Standard
- Risk-based rather than prescriptive
- Applies equally to offices, remote work, and high-risk sectors
- Strong enforcement and case law history
- Frequently used as the baseline model for global H&S frameworks
Many international organisations adopt UK-style systems to ensure consistency across borders.
Framework Law:
EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC
Implemented through national legislation in each member state.
General Applicability
- Applies from 1 employee
- Risk assessment is mandatory
- Worker consultation and training required
- Use of competent persons required
Common EU Requirements
- Written risk assessment documentation
- Preventive and protective measures
- Training and information for employees
- Consultation with workers or representatives
- Periodic review of risk controls
Country-Specific Notes
Germany
- Law: Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG)
- Applies from 1 employee
- Requires risk assessments and preventive measures
- Mandatory occupational health support for many employers
France
- Law: Labour Code (Code du Travail)
- Applies from 1 employee
- Mandatory DUERP risk assessment document
- Strong enforcement focus on documentation
Netherlands
- Law: Working Conditions Act (Arbowet)
- Applies from 1 employee
- Mandatory risk inventory (RI&E)
- Special focus on psychosocial risk and remote work
Note: EU compliance does not automatically align with UK law, but UK systems are often used as a strong baseline and adapted locally.
Primary Law: Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA)
Applies to: Most private-sector employers.
1+ employees → General Duty Clause applies
10+ employees → injury and illness recordkeeping (with some exemptions)
Provide a workplace free from recognised hazards
Comply with applicable OSHA standards
Maintain OSHA injury and illness logs
Provide training where required by standards
Key Difference vs UK
- • More prescriptive and rule-based
- • Industry-specific standards
- • UK-style risk assessments are not always required — but are still best practice
Many US tech and SaaS businesses adopt UK-style risk assessments voluntarily to strengthen governance.
Legal Structure: Federal + Provincial / Territorial legislation
1+ employees → duties apply
Thresholds vary by province for joint safety committees
Identify and control workplace hazards
Provide training and supervision
Establish emergency procedures
Report serious incidents
In some provinces: joint health & safety committees or representatives
Canadian systems align closely with UK and EU risk-based approaches, making UK frameworks relatively easy to adapt.
Primary Framework: Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Laws
Implemented by states and territories.
Applies to all PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking)
No minimum employee threshold
Ensure health and safety so far as reasonably practicable
Conduct risk assessments
Provide information, training and supervision
Manage psychosocial risks (increasing enforcement focus)
Officers have personal due diligence duties
Strong parallels with UK director accountability
Australia is often viewed as the closest equivalent to the UK system outside Europe.
Primary Law: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
Applies from 1 employee
Written Safety Statement required once employees are engaged
Risk assessment and Safety Statement
Appointment of competent persons
Training and consultation
Incident reporting
Ireland's system is heavily influenced by the UK framework.
Primary Law: Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Applies to all PCBUs
No minimum employee threshold
Risk management
Worker engagement and participation
Training and supervision
Strong enforcement for failures
The legislation is closely modelled on Australian and UK principles.
Primary Law: Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act)
Applies to most employers regardless of size
Risk assessments
Control measures
Training and supervision
Incident reporting
Singapore places strong emphasis on documentation and enforcement, even for office-based businesses.
| Country | Applies from | Risk Assessment | Training Required | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 1+ | Yes | Yes | HSE / Local Authority |
| EU | 1+ | Yes | Yes | National inspectorates |
| USA | 1+ | Yes (*) | Yes | Federal & State OSHA |
| Canada | 1+ | Yes | Yes | Provincial / Federal |
| Australia | All | Yes | Yes | State WHS regulators |
| NZ | All | Yes | Yes | WorkSafe NZ |
| Singapore | All | Yes | Yes | Ministry / WSH Council |
Arinite consultants provide:
Health & Safety law can be complex across borders but application must be practical and defensible.
Country-specific gap analysis
Risk assessments
Documentation and competent person support
Fire and DSE compliance
International Health & Safety governance
Talk to Our Health & Safety Experts – Free professional gap analysis available
The Arinite Transformation™
From Reactive Firefighting to Proactive Health & Safety Compliance
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
The Arinite Difference:
Other consultants get you to Stage 2 (Compliant) and disappear.
We get you to Stage 3 (Proactive) and keep you there.
That's why we call it transformation, not just compliance.
"We work with you to deliver peace of mind. We tailor our service provision to your business to provide proactive, pragmatic health and safety advice and that helps reduce costs by ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation."
Robert Winsloe
Managing Director
From Hidden Gaps to Compliance
Our proven 3-step system has helped over 1,000 businesses eliminate enforcement risk, pass inspections, and protect directors from personal liability.
No guesswork. No generic templates. No box-ticking.
Free Health and Safety Gap Analysis Call
Identify what's missing before an inspector does.
A focused 30-minute health and safety assessment to expose weaknesses in your current arrangements.
What you get:
→ You leave knowing exactly where you're exposed and what to do about it.
Health and Safety Audit
Turn risk into documented compliance, fast.
We conduct a comprehensive health and safety audit of your workplace and ensure everything inspectors expect to see is in place. This covers risk assessments, workplace safety inspections, health and safety policy documentation, and every gap identified in Step 1.
What's included:
→ You move from exposed to defensible with evidence to prove it.
Outsource Your Health & Safety - The Arinite Partnership
We become your health and safety department. Your competent person. Your compliance team.
No chasing updates. No need to worry about changes in health and safety laws. No need to wonder if you've missed something. You focus on your core day-to-day business, Arinite handle the rest.
What we take ownership of:
→ Compliance handled. Risk controlled. Directors protected.
Why This Works
Most enforcement actions arise from systems being assumed rather than proven.
We don't advise. We don't hand over templates.
We build, implement, and maintain end-to-end health and safety compliance, and when we identify an action item, we proactively pursue and resolve it. That's the difference.
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Common questions about UK health and safety law
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Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
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