Is Health and Safety Training a Legal Requirement in the UK?

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1. What Does the Law Say?

2. Who Needs Health and Safety Training?

3. Is Online Health and Safety Training Acceptable?

4. How Often Should Health and Safety Training Be Refreshed?

5. What Happens If Employers Don't Provide Training?

6. How Can We Help?

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The short answer is yes.

UK employers have a legal duty to provide their employees with adequate health and safety information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure they can work safely.

While the law doesn't specify that every employee must complete a particular health and safety course, it does require employers to provide training that is appropriate to the risks employees may face in their role.

What Does the Law Say?

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees.

This is supported by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to provide employees with suitable health and safety training:

• When they start work.

• When they are exposed to new or increased risks.

• When new equipment, technology or working practices are introduced.

• Whenever refresher training is needed to maintain competence.

Providing suitable training isn't just good practice—it's a legal responsibility.

Who Needs Health and Safety Training?

Every employee should receive training relevant to their role.

For example:

• Office staff should understand display screen equipment, fire safety and workplace wellbeing.

• Warehouse employees may require manual handling and equipment safety training.

• Construction workers may need additional training for working at height, PPE and site-specific hazards.

• Managers and supervisors should understand their legal responsibilities and how to manage health and safety effectively.

Training should always reflect the risks identified in your workplace risk assessments.

Is Online Health and Safety Training Acceptable?

Yes—provided it is suitable for the subject being taught and enables employees to gain the knowledge they need to work safely.

Many awareness courses can be delivered online, while practical subjects such as first aid or certain manual handling skills may require face-to-face or blended learning.

The most important consideration is that the training is effective and appropriate for the risks involved.

How Often Should Health and Safety Training Be Refreshed?

There is no single legal timeframe for refresher training.

However, employers should review training regularly and provide updates when:

• Employees change roles.

• Work processes change.

• New equipment is introduced.

• Legislation or guidance changes.

• An incident or near miss highlights a training need.

Many organisations choose to refresh core health and safety training every one to three years as part of their ongoing commitment to maintaining competence.

What Happens If Employers Don't Provide Training?

Failing to provide appropriate training can lead to:

• Increased workplace accidents and injuries.

• Enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

• Improvement or prohibition notices.

• Prosecution in serious cases.

• Higher insurance costs.

• Damage to your organisation's reputation.

Most importantly, inadequate training can put people at risk.

How Can We Help?

At Logic, we provide practical, engaging health and safety training designed to help businesses meet their legal responsibilities and build a safer workplace.

Whether you need training for new starters, managers or experienced employees, we can help you identify the right courses for your business and deliver training that is relevant, compliant and easy to understand.

Need advice on the right training for your business?

Contact our team to discuss your requirements and find the most appropriate health and safety training for your organisation.