Courses Available Online, Virtually and Classroom
Fully Certified NEBOSH, IOSH, IEMA Accredited
7-Day Customer Service
Jason Mordecai

What is the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999?

January 2025


The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) were created in December 1999 to support The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It dictates that an employer must identify the risks that employees, contractors, and members of the public might face and implement adequate control measures to eliminate or mitigate those risks. This is achieved through a formal risk assessment process. 


Key Components of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999 builds upon the responsibilities defined initially in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It applies to all employers and self-employed individuals.

The regulations cover several duties, such as:

  • Conducting thorough risk assessments. The Regulations state that this should be carried out by businesses that have 5 or more employees.
  • Appointing competent personnel to oversee health and safety.
  • Providing adequate training for employees.
  • Establishing clear emergency procedures should an accident occur.

MHSWR Amendments

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations were revisited in October 2003 to remove the civil liability exclusions. They now allow employees to claim damages from their employer, where they have suffered injury or illness. Employers are also able to take legal actions against employees for breaching their duties.

 

Responsibilities Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

The MHSWR designates specific responsibilities for both employers and employees. These responsibilities are aimed at creating a collaborative approach to managing health and safety risks, where each party can be held accountable.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers bear the primary duties for ensuring workplace safety under the MHSWR. Their duties include:

  • Risk Assessments: Employers must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and evaluate the risks associated with them. The findings must be recorded if the organisation has five or more employees, though it’s considered best practice to do this no matter the number of employees.
  • Implementing Control Measures: Once risks are identified, employers are required to take appropriate steps to eliminate or minimise these risks. This might involve introducing safer working procedures, using protective equipment, or redesigning workspaces.
  • Providing Information and Training: Employers are obligated to ensure that employees are informed about workplace risks and receive appropriate training. Training must be provided both at the start of employment and whenever new risks arise.
  • Emergency Procedures: Employers need to establish clear procedures for managing emergencies, such as fires or chemical spills. This includes conducting drills and ensuring that first aid is readily available.
  • Engaging with Employees: Employers must consult with employees or their representatives about health and safety matters. This collaborative approach helps in identifying practical solutions to workplace risks.

Employee Responsibilities

Employees also have a crucial role to play in maintaining a safe work environment. Their responsibilities include:

  • Following Instructions: Employees must comply with safety instructions and use equipment provided by the employer responsibly.
  • Reporting Hazards: Workers are expected to report any workplace hazards or safety concerns to their employer or supervisor promptly.
  • Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Where PPE is provided, employees must use it correctly and keep it in good condition.
  • Cooperating with Employers: Employees should cooperate with their employer’s efforts to comply with health and safety regulations. This includes participating in training and adhering to established procedures.
  • Avoiding Reckless Behaviour: Workers must refrain from actions that could endanger themselves or others. This includes tampering with safety equipment or failing to follow safety protocols.

Employers and employees also have different responsibilities in other areas of workplace safety, such as fire safety.

 

What is the Difference Between Health and Safety Regulations and Acts?

An “Act”, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, is a statutory piece of legislation that has been passed through parliament. They are solidified in law and a breach is enforceable by the courts. “Regulations” serve to bolster “Acts”. They are designed to help individuals work within the principles of the “Act” to avoid breaching them.

Breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 is a criminal offence, and an organisation or individual can face significant consequences for not protecting themselves and others. Prosecution often comes with heavy unlimited fines or imprisonment depending on how serious the infraction was.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 is a critical piece of legislation that underpins workplace safety in the UK. Understanding its key components and how it fits within the broader legal framework is essential for ensuring compliance and maintaining a safe working environment

Health and safety training courses such as the IOSH Managing Safely cover these regulations in extensive detail, ensuring employees understand their responsibilities and how uphold the best standards of safety in their organisation. The course is used by organisations worldwide to embed a culture of safety that actively seeks to identify risks and reduce accidents.




Section Curve
Case Studies

Real Life Stories

Find out how learners look back on their training with Astutis. Our case studies give our learners, both individual and corporate, a platform to share their Astutis experience. Discover how training with Astutis has helped past learners and delegates make the world a safer place, one course at a time.
More Image
Bottom Curve
What People Say

Hear What Our Learners Have To Say

We're always there for our customers. 98% of our learners rated their overall experience as good or outstanding. We will always pride ourselves on our customer service. But don’t take our word for it, here is what our customers have to say
  • "Very professional from start to finish, well organised with course dates and information sent in advance, all correspondence was nice and easy to understand."

    Alan
    11.02.2025
  • "Very well structured and delivered, good mix of breakout sessions into small groups to complete exercises and activities, knowledgeable tutors. Good pace and timings of sessions with a good level of interaction by the tutor with the delegates."

    Alan
    11.02.2025
  • "This is the third time i have used Astutis for Health and Safety courses and have again received great service and support."

    11.02.2025
  • "The course was challenging but the material and tutor support was great. Resits were easy to book when needed."

    11.02.2025
  • "The resource materials were to an excellent standard and I loved the styling of the teaching when online. It felt like a community. Andy did a fantastic job with engaging with us, he did a great job with teaching the content swiftly but in lots of detail. I do believe that Andy is the reason I enjoyed the course so much, he was happy and actually cared about the content he was teaching and the issues surrounding the environment which is so much more exciting the learn from than just someone telling the content, he made conversations flow."

    Dan
    11.02.2025
  • "The course was very interesting and I really enjoyed learning the content. It gave you a greater appreciation for the world around us."

    Dan
    11.02.2025
  • "For candidate online, it's better to have a dedicated team that manage post examination That could smooth their certificate request progress. Thanks"

    Foued
    11.02.2025
  • "Well organized and touched some sensitivity on terms of acceptance and dealing HSE serious requests."

    Foued
    11.02.2025
  • "Astutis provided unwavering support throughout my learning journey from inception to completion. Online training material and YouTube videos for all three modules are really helpful and also Astutis H&S expert provided important guidance and hints during pre-exam sessions which helped to answer all questions and how to gain marks by using technical words."

    Gaurang
    11.02.2025
  • "Value for money and well structured training course"

    Gaurang
    11.02.2025