AN ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

AUTHOR – GOWSALYA. S. & POORNAMATHI N.C.

LLM STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, THE TAMIL NADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – GOWSALYA. S. & POORNAMATHI N.C, AN ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (12) OF 2025, PG. 1098-1104, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

ABSTRACT

The United Kingdom’s approach to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is globally recognized for its comprehensive, risk-based framework, rooted in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). This article traces the evolution of OHS in Britain from the social upheaval of the Industrial Revolution and the ensuing Factories Acts to the modern, integrated system overseen by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It examines the fundamental shift brought about by the HSWA, which established universal responsibilities for all employers and employees and defined the structure for regulation and criminal enforcement. Furthermore, the analysis details the critical regulatory pillars, including the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (which cemented the risk-assessment duty) and other specific regimes like those governing Manual Handling and Hazardous Substances (COSHH). Finally, the article explores contemporary strategies for OHS, highlighting the ongoing challenge of addressing occupational health and the shift towards a partnership-based approach in a dynamic, service-sector-dominated economy, confirming the HSWA’s enduring legacy in reducing workplace harm.

KEYWORDS:

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Risk Assessment, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), UK Legislation.