Health and Safety Legislation

Legislation

Key Requirements

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers have a ‘duty of care’ for the safety of employees at work, regardless of the type or size of the business.
There is also a duty of care to others who may be affected by their business activities, which, in the case of driving, means all other road users.

HSE guide to Health and Safety regulations - a short guide

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Employers are required to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training.

HSE guide to Health and safety laws - a manager's guide

HSE guide - a simple guide to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

These Regulations cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues including traffic routes for vehicles within the workplace.

The Workplace (Health,Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Road Traffic Acts supported by the Highway Code

The Highway Code applies to all road users and includes information on signs and markings, road users, the law and driving penalties.
It is an offence for an organisation to set driver schedules which may cause them to break speed limits and / or have payment reward schemes which in any way incentivise them to do so.

The Road Safety Act 2006

- EC Drivers’ Hours Rules
- UK Domestic Drivers’ Hours Rules
- Tachograph Regulations
- The Road Transport (Working Times) Regulations 2005

It is the driver’s and employer’s responsibility to ensure compliance with drivers’ hours and Tachograph Regulations. They are applicable to goods vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes. Tachographs must be used to record hours of driving, other work, breaks and rest periods. Additional information can be found on the DfT website (use the search function and type in “tachograph” or “drivers’ hours”).

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1996

Provides information regarding the safety of loads on vehicles.

Aviva guide to The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The Act introduces an important new option for certain very serious senior management failures which result in fatality. Prosecutions will be of the corporate body, not individuals, but the ability to prosecute directors or other individuals under health and safety law or the general criminal law, in appropriate cases, will be unaffected. The corporate body itself and individuals can also still be prosecuted for separate health and safety offences.

Corporate Manslaughter Act