Any prospective employer setting up a new business should be aware of six important regulations which came about as a result of membership to the European Union and are incorporated into UK law.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 places an obligation on the employer to actively carry out a risk assessment of the work place and act accordingly.

Work place (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 deals with maintenance of the premises e.g. floors and corridors etc.

Provision And Use Of The Work Equipment Regulations 1992 deals with guarding dangerous machines.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
deals with the manual handling of equipment, stocks, materials etc.

Personal Protective Equipment Work Regulations 1992
deals with the introduction of protective clothing etc. where necessary.

The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 introduced measures to prevent repetitive strain injury, fatigue, eye problems etc. in the use of technological equipment.

The Health & Safety Executive and the Environmental Health Departments for the local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the various regulations.

They can provide information and guidance as well as enter premises to investigate conditions or seize and destroy harmful substances. They can also prosecute employers or serve Notices on them to improve working conditions, or in some cases serve Notices that work should stop altogether.