An Analysis of Laws Safeguarding Healthcare Workers in the United Kingdom

Abstract

This study analyzed laws safeguarding healthcare workers in the UK. The objective was to understand the legal, health, and safety standards protecting UK healthcare workers and assess employees’ challenges before identifying required reforms. The study results revealed that the UK had initially focused on industry-specific laws to promote employee safety. However, changes in employment composition had adjusted the approach, resulting in the focus on occupational health and safety. Healthcare workers in the UK found legal reprieve from a variety of laws, including HASAWA (1974), Workplace Health and Safety (1992), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1992), Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992), Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992, and Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (1992, 2018, and 2022). The challenge of the UK’s employee safety legal regime was an inadequate risk-based model downgrading severe risks healthcare workers routinely faced. The implication of this study was the need for reforms focusing on regulator funding, modernization of the regulatory regime, monitoring, and enforcement.