Contents
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Employee health and safety rights
- What are the employees’ responsibilities for health and safety?
- Consequences when employees fail to meet their health and safety responsibilities
- FAQs: Employee responsibilities for health and safety
- Support health and safety compliance with PeopleHR
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the cornerstone of UK workplace safety. It sets out the general duties of employers to protect staff and the responsibilities of employees to protect themselves and others.
Employers must ensure that the workplace, equipment and systems are safe. They also need to provide training, supervision and information that helps people to perform their roles without unnecessary risks. However, the Act makes it clear that employees are not passive in this arrangement. Their role is to use the training and equipment provided, to cooperate with their employer’s policies, and to act responsibly.
“Health and safety isn’t just a box-ticking exercise, it’s a shared responsibility that underpins every successful organisation. While employers must lead the way in creating safe environments, employees have a vital role to play in maintaining them. From following procedures to reporting risks, accountability at every level is key. That’s why we believe in empowering teams with the right tools. HR software like PeopleHR helps ensure that policies are accessible, training is tracked, and responsibilities are clear, making compliance not just easier, but part of the everyday culture.” — Matt Crook, Managing Director of Access People SMB
Employee health and safety rights
UK law gives employees clear health and safety rights: to work in safe conditions, to receive information about risks, and to be trained in the correct use of equipment and protective gear. They also have the right to stop work if they believe that they are in imminent danger.
However, in order for these rights to be upheld, employees must follow the training that they receive and avoid behaviour that undermines safety. By ensuring that responsibilities are clearly outlined, and that staff have easy access to the latest policies and training records, employers can support staff and meet their wider HR compliance requirements.
What are the employees’ responsibilities for health and safety?
So, what exactly are the health and safety responsibilities of employees? The law defines broad duties that apply to every worker, from senior managers to temporary staff. These health and safety employee responsibilities fall into five key areas.
Taking reasonable care
Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety. This means paying attention during training, using equipment correctly, and avoiding reckless actions. For example, rushing a task without using the right tools could create risks not only for the worker but also for colleagues nearby. Reasonable care is the foundation of every other duty, ensuring that safety is not left to chance.
Cooperating with employer safety measures
Safety policies and procedures are only effective if employees cooperate with them. This could mean attending mandatory training sessions, following fire drill instructions, or wearing protective equipment when necessary. Failure to cooperate could be considered insubordination, as it undermines the employer’s duty to keep the workplace safe, and in serious cases could lead to dismissal.
Not putting others at risk
Employees have a legal and moral responsibility to avoid actions that could harm others, including colleagues, customers and members of the public. This might include leaving spills unattended, ignoring faulty equipment, or behaving in a reckless manner. This aspect of health and safety employee responsibilities reinforces the collective nature of workplace safety, and creates a culture of awareness and accountability.
Reporting hazards or concerns
Employees must promptly report hazards, near misses or concerns about unsafe practices to prevent small problems from escalating into serious accidents. By speaking up early, employees help employers to take corrective action before harm occurs. Whether by email or an online system that allows staff to log issues directly, reporting channels should be clear and accessible.
Following training and using PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is only effective if it is used properly. Employees must wear PPE provided by their employer and follow the training that comes with it. Ignoring this responsibility can expose workers to unnecessary risks and leave the employer vulnerable to claims. Following training also means applying safety knowledge consistently, not just during inspections.
Consequences when employees fail to meet their health and safety responsibilities
When staff ignore their employee responsibilities for health and safety, the risks extend beyond minor mistakes. Let’s look at some of the main consequences of falling short in these essential duties.
Workplace accidents
The most immediate risk of failing to fulfil responsibilities is physical harm. Accidents caused by employee negligence can result in injuries ranging from minor cuts to life-changing conditions or even death. Workplace accidents can also disrupt operations, reduce morale and increase costs for employers, showing the wider impact of neglecting health and safety duties.
Legal exposure
Non-compliance exposes both employers and employees to legal potential action. If an accident occurs and investigations show that an employee ignored safety training or equipment, they may face prosecution. In some cases, failing to follow health and safety rules can even amount to gross misconduct. For employers, allowing these breaches to go unchecked can result in fines or enforcement notices.
Reputational damage
Workplace incidents often attract media attention or social media coverage. An organisation known for poor safety standards may struggle to attract new staff or clients. Reputational damage can take years to repair, making it one of the most significant outcomes of neglecting the health and safety responsibilities of employees.
Disciplinary risks
Employees who repeatedly fail to follow safety rules may face disciplinary action. Employers are within their rights to issue warnings or dismiss staff for serious breaches, as long as processes are fair and well documented. Using HR software to keep records that show whether staff have received the right training and policies before action is taken helps to provide clear evidence that procedures were followed correctly.
FAQs: Employee responsibilities for health and safety
What are the employee’s responsibilities for health and safety under UK law?
Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety, cooperate with their employer’s measures, use equipment correctly, and report hazards. These duties are set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
What happens if an employee ignores their health and safety responsibilities?
Ignoring safety duties can lead to accidents, disciplinary action, or even prosecution. It can also expose the employer to fines and enforcement action if the breach isn’t addressed.
How can employers support employees in meeting their health and safety responsibilities?
Employers can provide clear policies, training and reporting channels. HR systems support this by storing policies, tracking training completion, and allowing employees to log hazards or concerns easily.
Support health and safety compliance with PeopleHR
Your employees’ responsibilities for health and safety are important for protecting individuals and organisations alike. Employees must take reasonable care, cooperate with policies, avoid putting others at risk, report hazards, and follow training to maintain a safe working environment for everyone. Understanding the responsibilities helps employers to build safer workplaces and protect their businesses from avoidable risks.
Our HR software makes it easier to manage health and safety compliance throughout your organisation. From policy distribution and training records to incident logging and disciplinary processes, PeopleHR gives you the tools you need to support employee accountability.
To see how it works, watch our 4 minute demo today or get in touch through our contact page.
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