The foundation of health and safety law in the UK is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Prior to 1974 health and safety in the UK tended to focus on a group of specific industries (rail, coal, steel etc) and was designed to protect property, plant and equipment rather than the safety of workers. This left millions of workers outside of these specific industries with little or no protection against injury or illness while working for an employer.
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Often referred to as HASAW, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is an Act of Parliament and the main piece of health and safety legislation in Great Britain. It places a duty on all employers “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of all their employees.
The Health and Safety at Work Act became what is known as an enabling act, which means that the Secretary of State can introduce other health and safety laws underneath it quickly and easily (known as regulations) without the need to pass another Act of parliament.
Over the last half century, this has led to complex and far reaching reforms in the workplace that was unheard of in the early 20th century and has undoubtably saved millions of workers from death, serious injury and mental and physical illness.
Workplace health and safety in the UK is now the envy of the world and a system that many countries have copied, and others aspire to.
Download the Health & Safety Law Poster
Of course it’s not all about what the employer has to do for the employee. Workplace health and safety is a two way street and employees also have legal obligations to work with the employer on matters of health and safety. Workers have very clear safety responsibilities towards those they share the workplace with, and towards themselves.
By law every workplace should display the Health & Safety Law poster. This poster explains the obligations of employers towards employees in the matters of workplace safety, and the duties of the employee.
You can view and dowload a free copy below
Health and Safety Law Poster-What You Need to Know