The work and leisure environments

Abstract

Worker protection has been at the cornerstone of the regulatory system in the United Kingdom for over 160 years with regulations existing since the Act of 1833 which introduced factory inspectors to protect young workers. The concept of assessing risk is a simple one and often put more simply as ‘common sense’. Uniquely in the United Kingdom enforcement is split between the Health & Safety Executive and local authorities. The concept of risk management is explored elsewhere in this publication; however, the Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) should understand the overlap and links between health and safety and risk management. The main influence on the development of legislation in the United Kingdom since the early 1980s has been the EU. EHPs within local government may become involved in civil claims by virtue of investigating a RIDDOR reportable accident and often their investigation is requested by the claimant as part of their submission of evidence against the company.