HSE Compliance Services for
UK Businesses

Every UK employer has legal health and safety responsibilities. We provide expert occupational safety advisory, workplace health and safety management, and end-to-end HSE compliance support.

Speak to an HSE Compliance Adviser

Every UK business has a legal duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its workers and others affected by its operations. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the UK's national independent regulator for workplace health and safety, operating under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Effective compliance supports worker welfare, operational resilience, and long-term legal standing.

What is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)?

The HSE is the national regulator for workplace health and safety in Great Britain, established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It enforces health and safety law, provides guidance to businesses, conducts workplace inspections, and investigates incidents. The HSE is responsible for setting standards that protect workers, the self-employed, and members of the public affected by work activities.

Important Clarification: The HSE does not incorporate companies, issue investment licences, or grant foreign investment approvals. Most businesses do not require an HSE licence to operate. HSE compliance is a legal duty placed on employers and the self-employed, not a licensing process.

HSE Compliance Categories

UK businesses are subject to a range of health and safety obligations depending on their activities. The HSE enforces the following key compliance frameworks that employers and the self-employed must observe.

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Workplace Risk Assessments Identifying hazards in the workplace, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and implementing appropriate control measures to protect workers and others.
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RIDDOR Reporting Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. Employers must report specified workplace incidents, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE.
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COSHH Compliance Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Employers must assess risks from hazardous substances, implement exposure controls, and maintain appropriate chemical safety records.
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High-Hazard Industry Compliance Construction, energy, chemicals, and major hazard operations are subject to enhanced HSE oversight, including the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and COMAH requirements.

Health & Safety Compliance Process

We guide businesses through a structured five-step compliance framework aligned with HSE guidance and UK legal obligations.

Risk Assessment Conducting a thorough, site-specific risk assessment to identify workplace hazards — including fire, chemical, mechanical, ergonomic, and biological risks — and determining appropriate controls.

Policy Development Drafting a written Health and Safety Policy that sets out your commitment to safety, names responsible persons, and explains how safety is managed across your organisation.

Training & Controls Implementing control measures, supplying appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and delivering health and safety training tailored to the roles and risks within your business.

Monitoring & Review Regularly reviewing and updating your safety arrangements, carrying out internal audits, and adapting to changes in HSE guidance or workplace conditions.

Incident Management & Reporting Managing workplace incidents effectively and meeting statutory RIDDOR reporting obligations for specified injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences.

Scope of Our HSE Compliance Services

Workplace Risk Assessments
Site Safety Inspections
Health & Safety Policy Development
COSHH Reviews & Hazardous Substance Assessments

RIDDOR Support & Incident Reporting
Health & Safety Training Programmes
Compliance Audits & Internal Reviews
Ongoing HSE Compliance Advisory

Who Must Comply with UK Health & Safety Law?

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all employers, the self-employed, and those in control of premises have legal duties. HSE compliance applies broadly across all sectors and organisation sizes:

Employers & Businesses

All employers — regardless of size or sector — must protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and others affected by their work.

Self-Employed Individuals

The self-employed have a duty not to expose themselves or others to health and safety risks arising from their work activities.

Construction & High-Hazard Sectors

Construction firms, manufacturers, energy operators, and chemical businesses face additional sector-specific obligations enforced by the HSE.

Key Benefits of HSE Compliance

Legal Compliance Meeting your duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations helps protect your business from enforcement action and legal liability.
Worker Protection & Wellbeing A strong safety culture reduces workplace injuries, occupational illness, and supports the physical and mental wellbeing of your workforce.
Operational Resilience Proactive risk management reduces unplanned downtime, disruption, and the operational impact of workplace incidents on your business continuity.
Risk Reduction Systematic identification and control of hazards reduces the likelihood of accidents, supporting a safer environment for employees, visitors, and the public.

Key Outcomes & Deliverables

Risk Assessment Framework A documented, site-specific risk assessment addressing identified hazards and the controls in place to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Health & Safety Policy A written health and safety policy (required for employers of five or more) clearly setting out responsibilities and safety management arrangements.

Compliance Records Comprehensive documentation covering risk assessments, COSHH assessments, inspection records, and employee training logs to demonstrate ongoing compliance.

Incident Reporting Procedures Clear internal procedures for managing and recording workplace incidents, with RIDDOR-compliant reporting to the HSE where required by law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers with five or more employees must have a written health and safety policy. The policy must state the organisation's general policy on health and safety, the arrangements for carrying it out, and who is responsible for what. Employers with fewer than five employees are not legally required to write the policy down, though it is strongly recommended.

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), employers must report specified workplace incidents to the HSE. Fatal accidents and specified serious injuries must be reported without delay. Injuries that result in an employee being absent from work or unable to perform normal duties for more than seven consecutive days must be reported within 15 days of the accident. Certain occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences also trigger reporting obligations.

HSE enforcement can include improvement notices, prohibition notices, and prosecution. Fines imposed by the courts can be unlimited in Crown Court proceedings. Individual directors and managers can face personal prosecution, and in cases involving gross negligence manslaughter, custodial sentences are possible. Businesses should seek professional guidance to understand and manage their obligations.

UK health and safety law requires employers to appoint one or more 'competent persons' to assist them in meeting their legal health and safety obligations. A competent person is someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge, and other qualities to carry out health and safety functions effectively. This may be the employer themselves, a suitably trained employee, or an external health and safety consultant.

HSE inspectors have wide enforcement powers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They may enter premises to carry out inspections, issue improvement notices requiring remedial action within a set timeframe, issue prohibition notices requiring the immediate cessation of dangerous activities, and initiate prosecution in the courts. Local authorities share enforcement responsibility for certain business types.

Yes. Under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, most employers in the UK are legally required to hold employers' liability insurance with a minimum cover of £5 million from an authorised insurer. The current certificate of insurance must be displayed or made available to employees. Failure to hold adequate cover is a criminal offence and can result in significant daily fines.

Need Support with HSE Compliance?

Speak with our health and safety advisers to understand your employer obligations and get practical compliance support tailored to your business.

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HSE Compliance Services for UK Businesses