Health and Safety

Health & Safety at work

The basis of British health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The Act sets out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other.

These duties are qualified in the Act by the principle of 'so far as is reasonably practicable'. The law requires what good management and common sense would lead employers to do anyway: that is, to look at what the risks are and take sensible measures to tackle them.

Further Information

• Health & Safety at work - booklet (PDF 3MB)
  Guidance for Businesses on Health and Safety
  (see how to access PDF files).
• Regulation and Inspection
  We carry out checks on offices, shops, warehouses, places used for leisure and non-industrial premises.
• Occupational Health Service
  Occupational health is a specialised part of medical and nursing work, where the emphasis is on preventing ill health, and promoting good health.
• Prosecutions Register
  The Health & Safety Executive publishes a register for convictions.
• Air Handling Units
  Risks of Legionnaires' disease possible with certain purpose-built systems.

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Useful links

• Information and advice from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE):
  Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
• HSE site for those starting in business or are looking to measure and improve:
  HSE - Looking after your business
• HSE site includes an enforcement guide and information on investigations and notices:
  HSE - Enforcement Action
• Legislation can be found at the government's website:
  Legislation.gov.uk

Health & Safety around the home

Some 5,000 people die every year in the U.K. as a result of an accident in the home and a further three million people seek medical attention.

Further information

• Fire Safety
  Advice on fire safety in the home and the workplace with links to useful web sites.
• Community Fire Safety
  Prevention of fire through community involvement, education, research and awareness-raising.