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Welfare at work

Understand your legal duties to your employees at work

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You have a duty to ensure the welfare of your employees at work. Providing a safe and healthy environment will also help to motivate your workforce.

Use the links below to find information and resources on ways to ensure your employees' welfare at work as well as your legal duties relating to this.

  1. Workplace temperature
  2. Workspace
  3. Workplace facilities
  4. Work environment
  5. Vulnerable workers
  6. Legal duties for welfare at work

6. Legal duties for welfare at work

Health and​ Safet​​y at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA)

This states employers and those in control of workplaces need to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone who uses the premises, and the provision of welfare provision for people at work.

You can find out more about this on the Health and Safety Executive website (external website).

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations) 1992​ 

These explain more specific duties. These duties apply to most places of work with the exception of

  • work in or on a ship
  • work at a mine below ground
  • construction work on construction sites.

The regulations also apply to the common parts on

  • paths
  • private roads
  • shared buildings  
  • temporary work places.

You can download a leaflet on this from the HSE site.

Visit the HSE site to download guidance on workplace health, safety and welfare