The Health and Safety at Work Act
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering work-related health and safety in the United Kingdom. It sets out a lot of your employer’s responsibilities for your health and safety at work.
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing health and safety at work.
Risk Assessments
Your employer has a ‘duty of care’ to look after, as far as possible, your health, safety and welfare while you are at work. They should start with a risk assessment to spot possible health and safety hazards.
They have to appoint a ‘competent person’ with health and safety responsibilities. This is usually one of the owners in smaller firms, or a member of staff trained in health and safety in larger businesses.
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