ABSTRACT
The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) is the most important safety legislation ever to come into force in the UK. It is an ‘enabling’ Act which ‘enables’ Ministers (that is gives them the power) to introduce Regulations, called ‘Statutory Instruments’ and ‘Approved Codes of Practice’ (ACOPs) which explain in far more detail how the general provisions of the Act are to be implemented. While the enabling Act itself does not need to be changed or updated except in extremely unusual circumstances, Ministers can update Regulations and ACOPs that have been created under the Act whenever they think it necessary. These Regulations and ACOPs are discussed in detail in Session B.
