Health and safety at work etc act 1974
This article needs more work. To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article.
It sets out the general duties which:
- employers have towards employees and members of the public
- employees have to themselves and to each other
- certain self-employed have towards themselves and others
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:
- Applies to all workplaces including construction sites.
- Sets out general duties of employers, self-employed persons, persons in control of premises, employees, manufacturers and suppliers to safeguard the health and safety of employees and public who may be affected by their work.
- Failure to comply with the requirements of the Act is a criminal offence which can result in a prison sentence of up to 2 years prison and an unlimited fine.
- All health and safety regulations fall under this Act.
- Section 2 gives employers a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees as far as is reasonably practicable.
- Section 3 imposes a duty to ensure people who are not employees are not exposed to health and safety risks.
- Section 4 imposes a duty to ensure premises are safe and from risks to health.
- Sections 7 and 8 give employees a duty to take reasonable care.
- Section 37 provides that directors and managers can be liable personally for neglect or consent that leads to an offence under the Act.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Automated external defibrillator AED.
- As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
- Asbestos.
- Building regulations.
- CDM.
- Cold stress.
- Competent person.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
- Crane regulations.
- Environmental health.
- Fee for intervention.
- First aider.
- Health and safety.
- Health and safety consultant.
- Health and Safety Executive.
- Health and safety file.
- Health and safety inspector.
- Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences definitive guideline.
- Health and safety policy.
- Notification to HSE.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Pre-construction information.
- Principal contractor.
- Proximity warning systems.
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Work at height regulations.
Featured articles and news
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.