Reasonably Practicable
The standard applied under health and safety legislation (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974). An employer must reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable — meaning the cost, time, and effort of risk reduction must not be grossly disproportionate to the risk. The burden of proving reasonable practicability rests on the defendant (R v Chargot [2008]).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 does not require employers to eliminate every conceivable risk — only to do what is reasonably practicable. The Health and Safety Executive explains that the Act places general duties on employers, and some self-employed people, to do what is 'reasonably practicable' to ensure your health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do.
'Reasonably practicable' is narrower than 'physically possible': it involves weighing the risk against the sacrifice — in money, time or trouble — needed to reduce it, so that only a grossly disproportionate sacrifice relieves the duty-holder of the need to act. Because the duty is expressed as a defence, it is the employer, not the prosecution, who must show that the sacrifice required would have been grossly disproportionate to the risk.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.