The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the foundation of British workplace safety law. It places a general duty on every employer to protect employees so far as is reasonably practicable. It also names training as one of the specific ways to meet that duty.
Courses that cover the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
These 6 ProCompliance courses name the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as their governing framework. They are the training this law asks for. Each course page states its own accreditation.
Drug & Alcohol Awareness TrainingCPD accreditedDrugs and alcohol at work create safety risks and legal exposure for both the individual and the employer.View infoFree trial: Drug & Alcohol Awareness Training
General Health and Safety TrainingIOSH approvedCPD accreditedThe foundation course for any workplace.View infoFree trial: General Health and Safety Training
Health & Safety for Homeworkers TrainingCPD accreditedAn employer's duty of care does not stop at the office door.View infoFree trial: Health & Safety for Homeworkers Training
Health & Safety for Hybrid Workers TrainingHybrid working splits the week between locations, and each one carries different risks that are easy to overlook.View infoFree trial: Health & Safety for Hybrid Workers Training
Read our guides: Health and safety law in the UK and Why health and safety training matters.
What the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires
Every employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.
The duty extends to “the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees”.
Read the official text on legislation.gov.uk
What the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 means for training
Training is not an optional extra under this Act. Section 2(2)(c) names it directly as part of the general duty. That is why almost every other health and safety regulation builds on it without repeating it.
Common questions
Does the Health and Safety at Work Act require training by law?
Yes. Section 2(2)(c) lists information, instruction, training and supervision as part of the employer's general duty. It applies to the extent necessary to ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
Who does the Act apply to?
Every employer in Great Britain. The duty is owed to employees. Separate sections also extend duties to other people affected by the work.
This plain English summary is not legal advice. The wording above comes from the official text. This page links to that text, and you should rely on it instead. Some duties depend on your own risk assessment, so only that assessment can tell you what they mean.