Better regulation

HSE is fully committed to ensuring that regulations are fair and effective for everyone. Regulations are needed to protect people at work, but to avoid unnecessary burdens on business it is important to strike the right balance.

Legislation

List of all HSE-owned regulations, with links, wherever possible, to the full text of the legislation and relevant HSE guidance.

Legislation website

Business to business health and safety 'rules'

Health and safety 'rules' are obligations imposed by businesses or business intermediary organisations, not by Government.  HSE has been exploring perceptions of these rules and their effects both on businesses and the health and safety system more widely.

Understanding the impact of business to business health and safety 'rules'

Business Impact Target (BIT)

The business impact target (BIT) concerns the economic impact of regulation on businesses. Our reports include:

  • information on regulatory provisions that have come into force or ceased to be in force during the parliamentary year
  • an assessment of the economic impact on business of the regulatory provisions
  • information on HSE’s non-qualifying regulatory provisions

The business impact target (BIT), is a cross-government regulatory reform target and statutory report set in each Parliament. Reports are a statutory obligation of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act (SBEE) 2015.

HSE’s business impact target report

Reports archive

The following reports are available via The National Archive:

Regulators Code

The Regulators' Code came into statutory effect on 6 April 2014, replacing the Regulators' Compliance Code. It provides a clear, flexible and principles-based framework for how regulators should engage with those they regulate.

About the Code

Consultation

Help HSE to shape the way health and safety is enforced in the workplace. Play a vital role in deciding future health and safety policy and law.

Public consultations website

Accountability for Regulator Impact

Regulators are responsible for producing impact assessments for changes in policy which have the force of law. They do not need to produce an impact assessment when changing their operational policies, processes or practices.

However, such changes can have important impacts on the businesses they regulate.  This is why regulators are now required to produce 'Business Engagement Assessments' for significant changes in the burden of regulatory activity on business such as :

  • changes to non statutory guidance;
  • moves from paper-based to electronic reporting;
  • new or amended information obligations;
  • changes to or new standards;
  • changes to an inspection, enforcement or licensing framework or regime (but not individual enforcement decisions or changes to individual licenses);
  • changes in the regulator's provision of information, advice or training to businesses.

Accountability for Regulator Impact guidance

HSE's Business Engagement Assessments

HSE has no Business Engagement Assessments at present.

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2024-03-25