Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their employees and anyone else affected by their work activities.
In the case of chemicals, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 apply. The Regulations implement the health requirements of an EC Directive, known as the Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC), which establishes minimum requirements for the protection of workers' health and safety from the presence or use of hazardous chemical agents.