• Objectives: introduce new health and safety regulations and repeal outdated ones.
• Maintain or improve standards of health, safety and welfare at work.
• Protect non-workers from risks arising from work activities.
• Control the keeping and use of dangerous substances.
• Control emissions of noxious substances into the atmosphere.
• The Act covers all employers regardless of size or activity and practically all employees at work.
• From 1 October 2015, self-employed people whose activities create no potential risk to other workers or the public are exempt from health and safety law.

2.1 Employers' General Duties

• Provide safe equipment, e.g. jacks, axle stands and load-securing equipment.
• Provide a safe place of work; for drivers this can include the vehicle and customers' premises.
• Provide safe access to and egress from the workplace.
• Provide safe systems of work.
• Provide a healthy working environment, including control/removal of exhaust gases.
• Provide welfare facilities such as washing and eating facilities.
• Provide training, instruction and supervision.
• Provide safe arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
• Employer's duty is to ensure employee health, safety and welfare so far as reasonably practicable.

2.2 Safety Representatives and Committees

• Recognised independent trade unions can appoint safety representatives.
• Employers must consult union-appointed safety representatives on health and safety.
• Where reasonably practicable, safety representatives should have 2 years' service or 2 years' similar employment experience.
• Representatives may inspect the workplace and relevant documents with reasonable notice.
• They are entitled to reasonable paid time off for duties and approved training.
• An employer must establish a safety committee within 3 months of a written request from at least 2 safety representatives.
• Without a recognised trade union, employers must still consult employees directly or through elected employee safety representatives.

2.3 Safety Policy Statement

• Every employer with 5 or more employees must have a written safety policy.
• It should state the company's commitment to a safe and healthy workplace.
• It should identify organisation and communication arrangements for health and safety.
• It should explain arrangements for training, supervision and actions after accidents.
• The policy must be kept up to date and effectively communicated.

2.4 Employers' Duties to Other Persons

• Employers must protect people who are not employees but may be affected by work.
• This includes customers, visitors, members of the public and employees of other organisations.
• For road transport, this can include people at customers' premises and the wider community.

2.5 Employees' Responsibilities

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
• Take reasonable care of others affected by their acts or omissions.
• Co-operate with the employer in meeting health and safety requirements.