Starting Up

You must protect the health and safety of your workers and others who might be affected by your activities. Health and safety is about sensible, proportionate actions that protect people - not unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork.

This 10-point list shows some of the key actions required by law that apply to nearly every business. Each point has a link to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website which provides more detailed information.

1. Register with the authority if you are a new business. Visit our registration page.
2. Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance is needed by most employers.
3. A Competent Person must be appointed to help you meet your health and safety duties. This could be yourself, one or more of your workers or someone from outside your business.
4. A Health And Safety Policy is needed to help you manage health and safety if you have 5 or more employees.
5. Risk Assessments need to be done to decide what could harm your staff and what precautions you need to take.
6. Basic Welfare Facilities must be provided e.g. toilets, washing facilities and drinking water.
7. Health and Safety Training must be provided free of charge to your employees.
8. Consult Your Workers on health and safety.
9. A Health and Safety Law Poster must be displayed or give your workers a leaflet with the information.
10. Report some work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. Visit our Accident Reporting page.

The Health and Safety Starter Pack has been designed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide a comprehensive and low cost introduction to health and safety for new and small businesses.

• Go to the HSE Health and Safety Starter Pack page.

For further information on Getting Started, visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

• Go to the HSE Getting Started page.