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The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 turn the general duties of the Health and Safety at Work Act into practical steps. Above all, they are where the legal duty to carry out a risk assessment comes from.
Where they fit
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 sets broad duties: keep people safe so far as is reasonably practicable. The Management Regulations, often shortened to MHSWR, explain how to manage that in practice. They apply to almost every employer and self-employed person in Great Britain. For the wider picture, see our guide to UK health and safety legislation.
The regulations that matter most
| Regulation | What it asks of you |
|---|---|
| Regulation 3 | Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. With five or more employees, record the significant findings. |
| Regulation 4 | Apply the principles of prevention, such as avoiding risks and tackling them at source. |
| Regulation 5 | Have arrangements to plan, organise, control, monitor and review safety. |
| Regulation 7 | Appoint competent people to help you comply. |
| Regulation 8 | Set up procedures for serious and imminent danger, such as evacuation. |
| Regulation 10 | Give employees clear information about risks and controls. |
| Regulation 13 | Take account of capabilities and provide training. |
| Regulation 14 | Employees must use equipment properly and report dangers. |
Risk assessment: the heart of it
Regulation 3 asks for a risk assessment that is “suitable and sufficient”. That does not mean long. It means it identifies the real hazards, considers who could be harmed, and leads to sensible controls that are actually used. Choosing those controls follows the hierarchy of controls: remove the hazard first, personal protective equipment last.
Competent help
Regulation 7 says you must appoint one or more competent people to help you meet your duties. Competent means having the training, knowledge and experience for the risks in your business. Where possible this should be someone inside the business, which is why many employers train a manager rather than relying only on outside advice.
Groups the regulations single out
- New and expectant mothers: assess risks to them and their babies, and act on the findings.
- Young people under 18: assess risks before they start, considering their inexperience.
- Shared workplaces: employers sharing a site must cooperate and coordinate (regulation 11).
What it means day to day
- Check your risk assessments are current and reflect how work is really done.
- Name your competent person and make sure their training matches your risks.
- Test your emergency procedures, not just write them down.
- Tell people what the risks are and what is expected of them.
Training that matches the duty
Our Risk Assessment eLearning takes about 30 minutes. The one day NEBOSH HSE Award in Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work, developed by NEBOSH with the Health and Safety Executive, is assessed by a practical exercise rather than an exam. For managers, IOSH Managing Safely covers risk assessment, the law and incident investigation over three days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main duty in the Management Regulations 1999?
Regulation 3: carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and record the significant findings if you have five or more employees.
Do the regulations apply to small businesses?
Yes. They apply to almost all employers and the self-employed. Only the duty to record findings depends on having five or more employees.
What is a competent person under regulation 7?
Someone with enough training, knowledge and experience to help you meet your health and safety duties.
Are the Management Regulations the same as the Health and Safety at Work Act?
No. The Act sets the general duties; the Regulations explain how to manage them in practice.
Read the source
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/3242), published on legislation.gov.uk, and the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on risk assessment. Facts checked on 5 October 2026.
Find a date that works
Every course, every centre, with live availability and prices.
On your site or ours, and group rates on request.
