2. When health and safety law applies

If you are self-employed, health and safety law applies to you if:

  • you employ anyone – even temporarily, such as on a short-term contract
  • your work activity poses a potential risk to the health and safety of others, for example using chemicals that could cause harm, creating noise, dust or fumes, or using equipment that could injure someone
  • you do work involving 6 specific high-risk work activities covered by the law – this includes work:
    • in construction
    • in agriculture
    • in operating a railway
    • with gas
    • involving asbestos
    • with genetically modified organisms

When the law does not apply

If you are self-employed, health and safety law does not apply to you when:

  • you do not employ anybody
  • your work does not pose a risk to anyone else

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Updated:2021-03-01