Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

GB regulator for workplace health and safety; enforces the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

This page describes law that varies by part of the UK. Each section flags the jurisdiction it applies to.

Overview

The HSE is the national regulator for workplace health and safety in Great Britain. It enforces a wide range of statutes including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and sector-specific legislation (construction, chemicals, agriculture, offshore). It investigates serious workplace incidents, issues enforcement notices, and prosecutes employers and individuals.

What it handles

Workplace accidents and ill-health reporting under RIDDOR
Improvement and prohibition notices
Prosecutions in serious cases
Inspections of high-risk premises

Official sources

https://www.hse.gov.uk

Last reviewed: 2026-05-21. This is legal information, not legal advice.