The two main pieces of health and safety legislation for businesses in the UK are The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These place duties on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all persons whilst at work.

There are also secondary pieces of legislation covering specific hazards in more detail. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover the requirement to provide a safe and healthy work environment.

Health and safety legislation is important in the workplace as it sets the legal framework to protect employees, prevent accidents, and ensure organisations meet their duty of care.

Employers and landlords have a legal responsibility to protect the safety and health of everyone affected by their organisation or undertaking (employees, visitors, contractors etc.).

Although office premises are considered a lower risk environment, considerations include harm in the use of display screen equipment (DSE) potential causes of accidents such slips, trips and falls due to trailing cables trailing cables, fire risks, hazardous substances and facilities management and maintenance.

Your risk assessments should identify any risks to visitors and contractors, and suitable control measures should be put in place to protect them.

The Regulations still apply to homeworkers and agile workers. Employers must ensure workstation and workplace assessments are undertaken, the findings recorded and controls put in place. Employees will require a health and safety training course that helps them understand what they are expected to do and the actions to be taken to protect themselves from harm.

Using a workstation assessment tool such as the WA+ hosted on the SHINE platform allows your home and agile workers and DSE users to express their opinions about the issues associated with their tasks, work activity and the suitability of the workstation via a secure cloud-based risk management system.

The Approved Code of Practice from the HSE suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should be at least 16°C or 13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort. There is no upper limit specified however the employer must ensure that the temperature is reasonable and that might be achieved through a variety of measures such as air conditioning, working hours and size of occupation in the premises.

Smoking is banned in any enclosed workplace and public building in the UK.

The HSE recommends employers have a specific policy for smoking in the workplace and consult employees on a suitable policy to suit their workplace.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employees have a legal duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

They must comply with workplace policies and procedures, correctly use equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), and report any hazards, incidents, or unsafe practices to their employer.

These responsibilities ensure compliance with the law and contribute to a safer working environment for everyone.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the primary legal responsibility for health and safety at work lies with the employer. Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and others affected by their operations.

However, employees also have a legal duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to cooperate with their employer to meet legal requirements.

Health and safety in the workplace is crucial to protect employees from accidents, injuries, and illnesses, ensuring their wellbeing and ability to work productively. It helps organisations comply with legal requirements, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, reducing the risk of fines, legal action, and reputational damage.

Prioritising health and safety also fosters a positive workplace culture, improving employee morale and retention.