Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
England-focused reference checklist
Editorial source review: 2026-10-17
https://saeedazarshab.com/articles/england-building-regulations/health-safety-work-act-1974/

INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE — not project-specific legal/design advice or a compliance certificate. Check the official current requirements and applicable transition.

The main occupational health-and-safety framework in Great Britain, including England. It sets general duties for employers, employees and relevant self-employed people, including protection of others affected by work. Construction-specific regulations add detail; outsourcing work does not remove every duty held by the organisation.

WHAT TO CHECK
[ ] Identify people affected by the work, including other trades, occupants and passing members of the public.
[ ] Allocate health-and-safety responsibilities with enough authority, time and resources to fulfil them.
[ ] Assess work risks and establish safe systems, suitable equipment, information and training.
[ ] Consult workers and verify that controls are implemented rather than only documented.
[ ] Review arrangements after changes, incidents or evidence that existing controls are ineffective.

RECORDS TO KEEP
- Health-and-safety policy and responsibility arrangements appropriate to the organisation.
- Risk assessments, training records and workforce consultation evidence.
- Inspection findings, corrective actions and management reviews.

WHEN TO GET SPECIALIST HELP
Pause an activity where necessary controls are absent and seek competent safety advice; use the appropriate enforcing authority for serious unresolved concerns.

SCOPE AND EDITION
Sources reviewed 17 October 2026. Applies in Great Britain, including England, with specific statutory provisions and exceptions. Northern Ireland has a separate occupational safety framework; this is not an all-UK equivalence statement.

OFFICIAL SOURCES
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents

HSE: Health and Safety at Work Act
https://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. Original practical summary by Saeed Azarshab.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/