Health and Safety at Work
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on UK Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, and official guidance.
UK National Law
What is this right?
Your employer has a legal duty to protect your health, safety, and welfare at work. This means they must:
- Carry out risk assessments and act on the findings
- Provide a safe working environment — proper equipment, ventilation, lighting, and temperature
- Provide information, instruction, training, and supervision
- Provide adequate welfare facilities (toilets, washing, drinking water, rest areas)
- Have a written health and safety policy if they employ 5 or more people
Workers also have duties — you must take reasonable care of your own safety and cooperate with your employer.
When does it apply?
- This applies to all workers — employees, agency workers, trainees, and even visitors to the workplace.
- There is no minimum service period — you're protected from your first day.
- Employers of all sizes have duties, though the level of formality scales with the size of the business.
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the law and can inspect workplaces, issue improvement or prohibition notices, and prosecute.
What should you do?
- Report hazards to your employer or safety representative in writing.
- If there's a serious and imminent danger, you have the right to leave the workplace without being penalised.
- Contact the HSE to report dangerous working conditions: 0300 003 1647 or report online.
- If you're injured at work, make sure it's recorded in the accident book and seek medical attention.
- You can bring a tribunal claim if you're dismissed or treated badly for raising health and safety concerns — this is automatically unfair dismissal with no qualifying period.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't ignore safety hazards — you have a legal duty to report things that could endanger people.
- Don't tamper with or misuse safety equipment — this is a criminal offence.
- Don't assume "it's always been done this way" means it's safe — employers must update risk assessments when circumstances change.
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