High risk activities
There are high risk activities carried out by the self-employed that can result in fatalities and injuries. For these activities, the law will still apply.
Although not specifically mentioned in the regulations, there are many work activities that are also high risk (eg work with explosives) were the law will still apply because the work activity poses a risk to the health and safety of others.
The sections below give more information:
What is meant by agriculture?
Agriculture (including forestry) means any work activity mentioned in regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998:
Agricultural activities means all types of farming including arable and dairy, the keeping of livestock, grazing land, market gardening and forestry.
Check the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998 to see if to see if the work you do is included.
What is meant by working in construction?
This means any work activity mentioned in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
This includes any work which is carried out on a construction site. A construction site means any place where construction work is being carried out or to which the workers have access and applies to both commercial sites as well as domestic premises.
Check the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 to see if to see if the work you do is included.
What is meant by working with gas?
This means any work activity which is mentioned in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Working with gas includes the installing, servicing, maintaining or repairing of any gas appliances or gas fittings both in domestic and commercial premises.
Landlords have specific responsibilities to their tenants as regards gas safety.
Check the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to see if the work you do is included.
What is working on a railway?
Working on the operation of a railway includes using, cleaning or repairing a railway vehicle and most loading or unloading activities. It also covers people maintaining and repairing the infrastructure and those working at signalling control centres. Activities relating to reconstruction, renovation, refurbishment and repair of vehicles for use on a heritage railway would also be covered.
Check what is covered by the term "operation of a railway" in regulation 2 of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority for Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 2006 to see if the work you do is included.
What is meant by working with asbestos?
If your work activity involves asbestos then you are not exempt from health and safety law. Further advice and guidance can be found on the asbestos web pages, or in the publication L143 - Managing and working with asbestos.
What is meant by working with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)?
If your work activity involves GMOs within a research laboratory or a biotechnology production facility and not released into the environment, then you are not exempt. Further advice and guidance can be found on the biosafety webpages on GMOs.