Health and Safety is a popular generic complaint of the UK tabloids who love to pore over every misapplication and misrepresent every element of foolishness. However, the core purpose of the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act provides the foundations for the protection of the workforce. It also protects the general public from safety hazards caused by industrial installations. The requirements of the Act are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

IPPC regulators take these requirements into account when setting permit conditions and should ensure that conflicting obligations are not imposed.

The full text of the Act is available at the UK legislation website, where it can also be downloaded free of charge: Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This is reportedly current.

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