Health and safety

Health and safety is a complex area of law which not only has its own legal specialism, but also filters into many other areas of law, including employment.

The material in the health and safety topic gives an overview of the main areas of health and safety law that are likely to be encountered by employment lawyers and with which most employment lawyers will need some degree of familiarity. It also highlights in more detail particular issues, such as smoking in the workplace, on which many employment lawyers will be asked to advise on a regular basis.

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) website is a useful source of further detailed guidance on many of the issues covered in our health and safety topic.

Toilet and other facilities

Practice Note: Providing toilet, washing and changing facilities in the workplace considers the way in which employers should provide toilet, washing and changing facilities to their workforce and/or where facilities are shared with clients or customers, given the legal and other considerations that apply, in particular the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Building Regulations 2010, and

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PAC criticises Home Office over failures to tackle exploitation under skilled worker visa route

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found that the Home Office failed to adequately address the risk of exploitation and non-compliance under the skilled worker visa scheme, particularly in the care sector. In its 4 July 2025 report, the PAC criticises the department for failing to prevent abuse following the scheme’s 2022 expansion to support adult social care, highlighting serious weaknesses in safeguarding, compliance monitoring, and tracking of visa expiries. While the expansion helped alleviate workforce shortages during the pandemic, it also exposed migrant workers to exploitation, with evidence submitted to the inquiry detailing cases of debt bondage, excessive working hours and poor living conditions. Despite early signs of abuse, the Home Office was slow to respond and does not hold data on how many visa holders have been identified as potential victims of modern slavery. The PAC further found that the department lacks key data on visa compliance, including whether workers leave the UK at the end of their stay, are re-sponsored, or remain unlawfully, and has not analysed exit check data since the route’s introduction. In light of the recent decision to end overseas recruitment for care workers, the PAC warns of further risks unless cross-government workforce strategies are coordinated and calls for a joined-up approach to tackling exploitation and addressing domestic skills shortages.

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