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Top 10 UK Health and Safety Websites
With a huge amount of information and resources regarding workplace health and safety available online, we decided to create a guide to Britain’s top 10 trusted and most useful health and safety websites. This has been designed so that you can easily find the best guidance without wading through search engines for what you need. We hope you find this useful!
1. HSE
Free Guidance & Resources // Research // Discussion Forums // Legislation & Regulations // News // Events // Publications
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The HSE is a British public body responsible for regulating health and safety in the workplace. Their mission is to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health using world leading science, so that Britain continues to be one of the safest and best places to work.
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This website is packed full of useful (and free) guidance on all the key workplace safety and occupational health issues. You can search by topic or industry and from there you have a plethora of resources, facts, statistics and answers to common questions. These resources also include free downloadable leaflets, videos, audio and images that you can use in your own safety management.
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The health and safety toolbox allows you to choose topics which are relevant to your workplace. It will link you to the relevant place on their site so you can establish how to assess the risks and take the necessary precautions. It also tells you which laws are relevant to those risks.
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A comprehensive collection of HSE Communities broken down into industry groups offer registered members access to data sheets and resources relevant to their sector. Many of these communities include a forum for related discussions with other members.
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The legislation section is broken down into categories that include enforced legislation, post-implementation reviews, forthcoming legislation and the latest legislation news.
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Regular health and safety news and updates can be found on the press releases page, or you can subscribe to free email updates or RSS feeds on the news subscription page. Health and safety bulletins are also released, providing alerts for major faults that present serious risk of injury or death.
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HSE publishes links to upcoming health and safety events, such as conferences, seminars and exhibitions.
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HSE Books is an online shop for ordering printed publications, posters and DVDs.
2. HSL
Research // Consultancy // Training & Qualifications // Events
Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL)
The Health & Safety Laboratory is one of the world's leading providers of workplace health and safety research, testing, training and consultancy. They are part of HSE, and employ over 350 specialists to carry out investigations into accidents and ill-health in the workplace.
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HSL offer testing, monitoring and analysis services for assessing workplace risks, hazardous substances, product safety and the potential impact of incidents.
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You also have access to various case studies from different industries, explaining how HSL helped them to overcome health and safety issues. This is particularly useful if your company is facing similar issues, but also a great resource for seeing the process that HSL follows to assess and rectify problems in the workplace.
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The training page has an extensive range of health and safety courses to choose from and an event calendar so you can see when courses are being held. If you click for more details, information is provided on what each course covers, as well as who should attend and the location. Alternatively HSL can provide bespoke in-house training tailored to your organisation’s needs.
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HSL organises seminars, conferences and events on key health and safety topics.
3. RoSPA
Training & Qualifications // Consultancy // Free Guidance & Resources // News
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
RoSPA is a UK charity that shares knowledge and skills to reduce injuries and limit the burden of fatal and life-changing accidents. They collaborate with victims of accidents, their families and large corporations, in pursuit of their vision ‘Life, free from serious accidental injury’.
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RoSPA offers a wide range of occupational safety training courses, giving your staff the opportunity to learn from health and safety experts who know how to get the best results. There are 12 options including first aid, manual handling, risk assessment and e-learning, and from there you can choose courses for a specific focus or skill level.
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A useful guidance section titled ‘Training Matters’ explains the important of businesses investing in health and safety training, and provides advice on areas of likely training needed, how to get started, and where to go for further information.
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Their services include workplace safety consultancy, which offers on-site tailored health and safety audits, risk assessments and advice in a selection of areas.
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The occupational safety resources section offers a multitude of free information and advice.
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A separate RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog covers the latest industry news, safety guidance and legislation updates, including the option to subscribe to email updates.
4. British Safety Council
Training & Qualifications // Consultancy // Campaigns // Events // Publications
British Safety Council (BRITSAFE)
The British Safety Council has provided guidance across the world on effective workplace health, safety and environmental management for over 60 years. They campaign to protect workers from injury and illness at work, and have an important role in influencing key UK safety legislation.
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Their training page offers courses and qualifications from several organisations, including on-site, off-site, online and assisted distance learning.
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There is a page detailing their consultancy and audit services, aimed at enhancing your safety, health and environmental management systems, and assisting you in meeting recognised standards.
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Britsafe operate a number of campaigns targeted at key health and safety issues. These include Mates in Mind which supports mental health in the construction industry, and Speak Up, Stay Safe which promotes confidence in young people to take action against unsafe work practices.
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Business benefits of good health and safety is a free report and an in-depth guide containing detailed analysis, facts and figures, so you really have quality research at your fingertips.
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Their events include awards, conferences, workshops and exhibitions, including the well-known International Safety Awards which is held each year.
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A range of publications are available to purchase, including monthly guides on various topics, posters to raise awareness in the workplace, and the Safety Management Magazine which discusses the latest health and safety news and topics.
5. IOSH
Free Guidance & Resources // Publications // Training & Qualifications // News // Careers // Events // Discussion Forums
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
IOSH is a chartered body founded in 1945, which promotes workplace health and safety as a supporter, adviser and advocate for its members. Their services include guidance, research, training, support, resources and events for occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals.
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As the only chartered body for health and safety practitioners, IOSH is the most trusted and popular membership for people in the health and safety profession.
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Dozens of books and resources are available for free download or purchase, including guides, tools, research and reports.
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IOSH offers the most comprehensive range of OSH training available anywhere, through a worldwide network of licensed providers. Their courses are practical and effective in improving safety, health and wellbeing, and creating a safety-conscious workforce culture. The website provides information on each course to help guide your decision, including why it works, what to expect, and the top 5 business benefits.
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They post regularly on their news page, as well as publishing on the separate IOSH Magazine website, covering a wide range of topics including safety advice, industry updates, and health and safety news.
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Linked to this magazine is the IOSH Health & Safety Jobs website offering career opportunities categorised by job title and business sector.
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The events section allows you search and book online for hundreds of free or low-cost conferences, seminars, CPD courses, networking opportunities and online events.
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The IOSH forums are free for members and non-members to discuss anything relating to health, safety and environmental issues, careers and learning.
6. IIRSM
Training & Qualifications // Events // News // Publications // Free Guidance & Resources
International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM)
IIRSM is a member-led professional body offering risk and safety management support to over 8,000 members around the globe. They give recognition for their members’ professional skills, educate and develop them in their careers, create partnerships to advance the safety management profession, and provide products and services to support this mission.
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Their website has a section combining training and events with links to the courses they offer, plus upcoming conferences, awards, events, webinars and schemes in a clear format.
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The news page allows you to read about industry events and IIRSM initiatives, with a filter to select results from ‘news’, ‘blog’ and ‘press’. An email subscription box at the bottom of every page lets you sign up to stay in touch.
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A handful of books are available to purchase from their publications page, and discounted rates are available on external publications from some of their partners.
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The IIRSM Info Hub contains links to technical advice, useful articles and guides, downloadable resources and third party contacts.
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Members enjoy full access to Health and Safety at Work and copies of Insight, two official magazines of the IIRSM. Free PDFs of the Insight magazine 2018 editions can be viewed online.
7. OSHCR
Consultancy // Accreditation // Online Directory // News // Free Guidance & Resources
Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR)
The OSHCR is a register of certified health and safety professionals, to give businesses confidence that they are choosing an accredited consultant. It was established following a government report which recommends health and safety consultants should be registered to an approved standard and listed in an online directory.
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The primary feature of this website is the directory of consultants, allowing visitors to filter and sort the search results by location, name, keyword, industry and topic. Each consultant’s profile page contains details of their qualifications, memberships, specialities and experience, and business users can log in to access contact details. Registered consultants are obliged to meet the OSHCR eligibility criteria and are bound by the code of conduct of their professional body. The IOSH and IIRSM we discussed earlier are among these seven approving bodies.
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OSHCR have their own blog, as well as a news feed including links to news from their partners, professional bodies and the HSE.
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The knowledge base contains a selection of articles for business owners on health and safety information, risks and regulations.
8. NEBOSH
Training & Qualifications // Accreditation
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
NEBOSH is an independent UK-based examination board offering a wide range of globally recognised qualifications in health, safety and environmental management.
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Tens of thousands of candidates take NEBOSH qualifications each year, from more than 600 course providers in over 120 countries. These are offered at four levels: awards, certificates, diplomas and masters.
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The website has a search feature for finding the appropriate course, and a comprehensive list of FAQs.
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The information provided about each course includes what the qualification covers, how it’s assessed, the cost, the studying time required and what benefits it offers to employers.
9. BSIF
Accreditation // Online Directory // Campaigns // Events // News
British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
BSIF is the UK’s leading trade body and independent voice of Britain’s safety industry. They are a source of information and support for workplace safety, an influencer of safety legislation, and have a membership base of manufacturers, distributors, test houses, certification bodies, safety professionals and service providers.
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BSIF’s Registered Safety Supplier Scheme is set up to combat the supply of non-certified and unsafe PPE. Registered suppliers are audited. and products must be CE marked and comply with the appropriate safety standards, regulations and the scheme’s requirements.
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They also operate the Fit2Fit accreditation scheme for approving competent providers of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) face fit testing. This helps ensure correct fitting of RPE, reducing the risks of respiratory injury or disease.
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BSIF runs campaigns related to particular safety concerns, for example ‘Clean Air? - Take care!’ aimed at reducing occupational respiratory disease and ‘It’s in your hands - Prevent work related skin disease’. Associated literature and further information can be accessed so you can get involved in supporting these campaigns.
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The annual BSIF Safety Awards recognise excellence in the safety industry, by awarding 5 winners in each of three categories: Product Innovation, Safety Solution and Service Excellence.
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The free BSIF app keeps subscribers up to date with the latest industry news, BSIF updates and information on key events. Other features of the app include ‘Safety Cam’, for sending images of safety concerns or celebrations to BSIF, and ‘Safety Notes’ for recording information in the app for future reference.
10. SHP Online
News // Free Guidance & Resources // Events // Online Directory // Careers
Safety & Health Practitioner (SHP)
SHP is a news channel for the health and safety industry, covering a wide range of subjects and providing a wealth of free online resources.
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This site is packed with more news and resources than nearly any other health and safety website. With multiple news releases a day, and comprehensive resources categorised by popular topics, there’s not much SHP doesn’t cover. You can either navigate through the menu options or enter keywords in the search bar to find relevant information.
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SHP organises the Safety & Health Expo, a leading European health and safety event, providing visitors with CPD accredited education, the latest health and safety products and services, and networking opportunities. SHP Online provides news and features from the Safety & Health Expo before and after each event.
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A section dedicated to the SHP Directory allows you to search hundreds of suppliers for health and safety products and services. If you prefer, you can browse by product category, or see an A-Z list of companies.
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SHP4Jobs is a separate website for searching health and safety vacancies, creating job alerts, and accessing career advice.
