Health and Safety Executive
(HSE)
The Health and Safety Executive is the national regulator for workplace health and safety in Great Britain. It sets and enforces health and safety law, investigates serious workplace incidents, and provides guidance to employers and workers. Employers must notify the HSE of certain workplace accidents and dangerous occurrences under the RIDDOR regulations.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national regulator for workplace health and safety in Great Britain, operating under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Employers have a legal duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by their work, supported by a written health and safety policy (required where 5 or more employees are employed). The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) require employers to notify the HSE of fatalities, specified injuries (e.g. fractures other than fingers/toes), over-7-day incapacitations, and certain dangerous occurrences. The HSE can issue improvement and prohibition notices, investigate incidents, and prosecute — with unlimited fines and up to 2 years' imprisonment for some offences. Workers who suffer injury due to employer negligence can claim compensation through the civil courts; employers must hold Employers' Liability Insurance of at least £5 million.