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Health and Safety for Professional Services Firms:Client Sites, Business Travel, Partner Liability, and Compliance

Qualified professional services health and safety consultants · Client-site working risk assessments · Business travel and international risk · Partner liability under Section 37 HSWA 1974 · DSE for hybrid working · Psychosocial risk · Compliance for accountancy, consulting, audit, and advisory firms across the UK and 50+ countries.

Professional services firms operate one of the deceptively complex workplace H&S profiles. The physical risk is low. The compliance scope is broad: office, home, hybrid, client site, business travel, international travel, partner liability under Section 37 HSWA 1974, and an elevated psychosocial demand profile driven by utilisation pressure and engagement deadlines. The standard office sector page does not capture this. Arinite delivers a configured compliance set that covers the six working patterns through a single integrated system, with specific attention to client-site exposure and international travel risk.

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ABOUT

About This Sector

Professional services covers accountancy and audit firms, management consultancies, strategy consultancies, tax advisory, transaction services, restructuring and insolvency firms, recruitment and executive search firms, government and public sector advisory, technology consulting, actuarial consultancies, valuation specialists, and similar partnership-led or matrixed professional service businesses.

The compliance profile is office-based at the surface but typically spans six distinct working patterns: office working at the firm's own premises; hybrid and home working; client-site working (audit teams on engagement, consultants on assignment, advisors at client offices for extended periods); UK business travel; international business travel including high-risk destinations; and off-site events including team off-sites, client events, and conferences. Each pattern carries its own risk profile and the compliance documentation must cover all six.

Arinite provides Qualified consultants and compliance software to professional services firms across the UK and 50+ countries, from the Big Four-tier accountancy and consulting firms through to mid-market and boutique advisory practices.

COMPLIANCE GAPS

Common Compliance Failures We Find
in Professional Services Firms

These are the professional services health and safety failures Arinite's Qualified consultants find most frequently.

Risk assessment does not cover client-site working

Consultants, auditors, and advisors working at client sites for extended periods are functionally out of scope. The single most common compliance gap in this sector.

Business travel risk not assessed

International travel risk, high-risk destination travel, driving on company business, and lone travel not addressed in any documented form.

DSE assessments not updated for hybrid working

Pre-pandemic DSE programme not updated.

Psychosocial risk treated as wellbeing benefits, not statutory risk

Utilisation pressure, engagement deadlines, partner pressure, and deal cycles are recognised psychosocial demand factors.

Worker Protection Act 2023 not operationalised

Particularly significant given client-site working patterns where third-party harassment risk is real.

Partner liability under Section 37 misunderstood

Partners assuming partnership or LLP limited liability shields them personally from health and safety prosecution. It does not.

No accident, near-miss, or incident reporting culture

Including failure to capture client-site incidents.

No competent person appointed

Particularly common in independent and boutique firms.

CLIENT-SITE WORKING

Client-Site Working

Where employees spend extended periods working at client sites (audit teams on engagement, consultants on assignment, advisors at client offices), the firm's duty of care under HSWA 1974 Section 2 does not transfer to the client. The firm retains primary responsibility for the safety of its employees regardless of where they work.

What Client-Site Risk Assessment Must Cover

1

Confirmation of the client's site arrangements

Documented confirmation of the client's fire risk assessment, evacuation procedures, first aid arrangements, and any specific site rules.

2

DSE arrangements at the client site

Where employees work at client workstations for extended periods, the DSE Regulations 1992 duties apply. The firm must satisfy itself that the workstation provided is suitable, or provide alternative arrangements.

3

Lone working and out-of-hours arrangements

Many professional services engagements involve extended working hours including evenings and weekends. Building security, access arrangements, and lone working protocols matter.

4

Building security and after-hours access

Particularly relevant for audit teams working at client premises during quarter-end or year-end periods.

5

Fire evacuation procedures at the client site

Employees must be briefed on local arrangements.

6

Site-specific risk (industrial, manufacturing, construction, hospital, military)

Engagements at high-risk client sites require additional risk assessment, PPE provision, and induction.

7

Worker Protection Act 2023 reasonable steps

Specific provisions for harassment by third parties (client staff, contractors at the client site).

8

Reporting and escalation arrangements

What an employee does if they encounter a safety concern at the client site, including refusing to continue work where reasonably perceived as unsafe.

Insurance and Liability

Working on client sites does not transfer the employer's duty of care. The firm retains primary responsibility for the safety of its own employees, regardless of any client site rules or client risk assessment. Employers' liability insurance must extend to client-site working.

BUSINESS TRAVEL AND INTERNATIONAL RISK

Business Travel and
International Risk Assessment

Professional services firms typically operate intensive travel patterns: UK client travel, international engagement travel, conference attendance, team off-sites, and global secondments. The employer's duty of care extends to all of these.

What Business Travel Risk Assessment Must Cover

1

Pre-travel risk assessment

For elevated-risk destinations (politically unstable, security-sensitive, high-crime, public health), documented pre-travel risk assessment is expected.

2

Travel approval process

For high-risk destinations, formal travel approval through risk assessment.

3

Travel security briefing

For high-risk destinations and senior personnel.

4

Travel medical preparation

Vaccinations, medication, travel health insurance.

5

Driving at work risk assessment

For consultants driving on company business including grey fleet (employee's own vehicle used for company business).

6

Lone travel arrangements

Particularly relevant for junior staff travelling alone to unfamiliar destinations.

7

Hotel and accommodation safety

Approved hotel list for high-risk destinations, fire safety expectations, security considerations.

8

Emergency support arrangements

24/7 emergency contact, evacuation planning for crisis destinations, repatriation insurance.

9

Post-travel debriefing

For incidents during travel and for travel to higher-risk destinations.

Driving at Work Specifically

Driving on company business (whether in a company vehicle, hire car, or employee's own vehicle on grey fleet arrangements) is in scope under the employer's duty of care. A compliant driving-at-work programme covers driver competence, vehicle suitability, grey fleet compliance, journey planning, fatigue management, mobile phone policy, and post-incident protocols.

PARTNER LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 37

Partner Liability Under Section
37 HSWA 1974

Partners in a partnership, members of an LLP, and directors of an incorporated practice all carry potential personal liability for health and safety breaches. This is routinely misunderstood: partners frequently assume partnership or LLP structures shield them personally from H&S prosecution. They do not.

The Routes to Personal Liability

1

Section 37 HSWA 1974

Where an offence by the firm is committed with the consent, connivance, or attributable to the neglect of a director, manager, secretary, or other similar officer (including partners), that person is personally guilty of the offence and liable to prosecution.

2

Common law partnership liability

Partners are jointly and severally liable for the acts of the partnership.

3

LLP membership

LLP members are not generally personally liable for the LLP's debts but remain potentially personally liable for their own acts and omissions, including under Section 37.

4

Manslaughter

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 applies to firms; individual senior management can be prosecuted for gross negligence manslaughter where their own conduct is grossly negligent.

5

Professional regulatory consequences

Partners in regulated professional firms can face regulator consequences (ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS, CIOT) in addition to criminal liability.

Practical Implications

Partners in professional services firms should:

1

Understand their personal Section 37 exposure.

2

Ensure the firm has documented health and safety arrangements that satisfy MHSWR 1999.

3

Ensure a competent person is formally appointed under MHSWR Regulation 7.

4

Ensure the partner with delegated H&S responsibility has both the authority and resources to discharge the role.

5

Receive periodic briefing on the firm's H&S posture and any open issues.

Arinite delivers Section 37 awareness briefing as standard during onboarding, with periodic refresh as part of the competent person retainer.

PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK

Psychosocial Risk in
Professional Services

Stress, burnout, and elevated psychosocial demand are documented across professional services, particularly in audit (during busy season), M&A advisory and transaction services, and high-utilisation consulting environments. Under MHSWR Regulation 3, psychosocial factors are a statutory risk assessment category. The HSE Management Standards and ISO 45003:2021 set the framework. See our stress and mental health at work page.

For partnership-structured firms, partner-to-associate supervision culture and partner behaviour are key factors in the HSE Management Standards "support" and "relationships" categories.

EMPLOYER DUTIES

Core Employer Duties for
Professional Services Firms

Every professional services firm must:

1

Conduct a documented risk assessment under MHSWR Regulation 3 covering office, home, hybrid, client-site, UK travel, and international travel activities.

2

Conduct DSE assessments for every habitual screen user including home, hybrid, and client-site working.

3

Maintain a documented psychosocial risk assessment.

4

Document Worker Protection Act 2023 reasonable steps including third-party harassment.

5

Operate a documented business travel risk assessment including international travel.

6

Operate a documented driving-at-work programme for any employee driving on company business.

7

Operate documented client-site working protocols.

8

Maintain a documented fire risk assessment for each premises.

9

Appoint one or more competent persons under MHSWR Regulation 7. See our competent person service.

10

Maintain a written health and safety policy signed by a managing partner.

11

Ensure partner Section 37 awareness is briefed and refreshed.

12

Report specified injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR, including incidents occurring at client sites and during business travel.

REGULATIONS

Sector-Specific Regulations for
Professional Services Firms

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

General duties; Section 37 partner and director liability.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Risk assessment, competent person, training, and worker information duties.

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

DSE assessment for habitual screen users including home, hybrid, and client-site working.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Documented fire risk assessment for every non-domestic premises.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Minimum welfare standards for occupied premises.

The Worker Protection Act 2023

Preventative duty on sexual harassment including by third parties.

The Equality Act 2010

Reasonable adjustments duty for workers with disabilities.

RIDDOR 2013

Mandatory reporting of specified workplace injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

Corporate liability for gross negligence manslaughter where the firm is at fault.

OUR SERVICES

Our Health and Safety Services
for Professional Services Firms

Professional services risk assessments

Office, home, hybrid, client-site, UK travel, and international travel activity risk assessment.

Client-site working protocols

Documented arrangements for extended client-site engagements covering DSE, lone working, security, and Worker Protection Act 2023 reasonable steps.

Business travel and international risk assessment

Pre-travel risk assessment, destination tiering, travel security briefing, and emergency support arrangements.

Driving at work programme

For fleet and grey fleet drivers including consultants using their own vehicles for client travel.

DSE assessments

For office, home, hybrid, and client-site working.

Psychosocial risk assessment

HSE Management Standards-aligned psychosocial risk assessment.

Worker Protection Act 2023 compliance

Risk assessment, policy, training, and documented reasonable steps including third-party harassment.

Partner Section 37 awareness

Documented Section 37 personal liability briefing for the partner group.

Fire risk assessments

PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessments for offices.

Competent person retainer, policy, and audits

See our health and safety policy, health and safety audit, and competent person services.

Health and safety software

See our health and safety software.

TRAINING

Health and Safety Training
for Professional Services Firms

DSE awareness

For all consultants.

Manager and partner training

On H&S duties and Section 37 personal liability.

Mental health awareness

With deeper line manager training, given sector-elevated psychosocial demand.

Worker Protection Act 2023 harassment prevention training

Including third-party scenarios.

Business travel and lone travel briefing

Including high-risk destination training.

Driving at work training

For fleet and grey fleet drivers.

Client-site safety briefing

For new joiners.

Fire safety induction and fire warden training

Appropriate to the premises.

First aid at work

For designated first aiders.

See our health and safety training service.

TYPICAL ENGAGEMENT

A Typical Professional Services
Engagement With Arinite

The following is an illustrative example of how Arinite engagement typically runs for a professional services firm.

A mid-market management consultancy with 200 consultants across offices in London and Manchester, with intensive UK and international client-site working, approaches Arinite after a near-miss involving a consultant working alone late at a client site during quarter-end. The firm has an outdated H&S policy, no risk assessment for client-site working, no business travel risk assessment, and no documented partner Section 37 awareness.

Mo
1

Arinite's free gap analysis call identifies the priority gaps. We agree a 90-day remediation programme. In month one, we deliver: a refreshed health and safety policy signed by the managing partner, a current MHSWR Regulation 3 risk assessment covering office, hybrid, home, client-site, UK travel, and international travel activities, a competent person appointment, and DSE self-declarations to all 200 consultants.

Mo
2

In month two: we deliver fire risk assessments for both offices, a business travel risk assessment including international destination risk tiering, a driving-at-work programme including grey fleet, a lone working programme for client-site working with check-in arrangements, and documented client-site engagement protocols.

Mo
3

In month three: we deliver psychosocial risk assessment using HSE Stress Indicator Tool, document Worker Protection Act 2023 reasonable steps with specific provisions for third-party harassment at client sites, train the partner group on Section 37 personal liability, train line managers on mental health, and hand over to ongoing competent person retainer with quarterly reviews.

The firm now operates an integrated H&S system covering all six working patterns. The partner group has documented Section 37 briefing on file. The competent person retainer continues.

WHY ARINITE

Why Professional Services
Firms Choose Arinite

Five practical reasons professional services firms appoint Arinite as their outsourced competent person:

Client-site working capability

Our compliance set specifically covers extended client-site working with documented engagement protocols, lone working arrangements, and third-party harassment provisions.

International travel capability

Locally qualified consultants in 50+ countries support multi-jurisdiction travel and engagement work through one engagement.

Partner Section 37 briefing

Documented Section 37 personal liability awareness with periodic refresh as part of the competent person retainer.

Configured for partnership structures

Documentation, governance, and reporting designed for partnership and LLP structures rather than standard limited company structures.

Qualified consultants, not generalists

MHSWR Regulation 7 requires competent advice.

RELATED SECTORS

Related Sectors

If you operate adjacent to professional services, you may also find these sector pages relevant:

Book a Free Gap Analysis Call

Book a free gap analysis call with one of our Qualified health and safety consultants. In 30 minutes, we will assess your current arrangements, identify the compliance gaps that matter most across your six working patterns, brief the partner group on Section 37 personal liability, and give you a clear recommendation and indicative cost.

Book My Free Gap Analysis Call+44 (0)20 7947 9581