The History of Occupational Health and Safety in the UK
- KSH Safety Services
- Aug 19
- 5 min read
Occupational health and safety (OHS) in the United Kingdom has evolved over centuries, shaped by industrialisation, worker advocacy, and legal reforms. From the hazards faced by cavemen and then by medieval craftsmen to the stringent regulations of today, the UK has played a pivotal role in developing workplace safety standards.
Pre-Industrial Britain: Early Work Hazards (Before 1700s)
Ancient Man
Health and Safety, in a primative form, has existed since the time of cavemen. Those cavemen on first discovering fire will have probably suffered injuries and smoke inhalation and over time would have learned how to control their fires, and where to put them. They will have learned what food is safe to catch and eat, and what would give them the runs or even kill them.
Biblical Times
Health and safety best practice can even be found in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy, believed to have been written in the 7th century BC. Chapter 22 verse 8 says:
“When you build a new house, then you shall put a railing around your roof, so that no one may fall from there and bring guilt of blood upon your house.”
Tudor Accident Investigation
Jump ahead to Tudor times - 1540 to be exact - when a report was written into the death of a child:
"a yonge childe… standing neere to the whele of a horse myll… was by some mishap come within the swepe or compasse of the cogge whele and therewith was torne in peces and killed. And, upon inquisition taken, it was founde that the whele was the cause of the childes death, whereupon the myll was forthwith defaced and pulled downe.”
The report did not suggest any ways of making the other horse mills of the time any safer to prevent such incidents happening again.
Medieval Guilds and Craftsmanship
During the Middle Ages, skilled trades such as blacksmithing, weaving, and stonemasonry were regulated by guilds, which set basic apprenticeship rules and work conditions. However, injuries from manual labour, burns, and falls were common, with little formal protection.
Mining and Agriculture
- Coal mining began as early as Roman Britain, with miners facing cave-ins, suffocation, and lung diseases.
- Agriculture involved long hours, heavy lifting, and exposure to the elements, leading to chronic injuries.
The Industrial Revolution: The Rise of Workplace Dangers
The shift from agrarian work to factories introduced severe hazards:
Textile Mills and Factories
- Child labour: Orphans and poor children worked 14–16 hour days near dangerous machinery.
- Unsafe machinery: Workers lost fingers, limbs, or lives in unguarded equipment, especially in the cotton mills.
- Poor ventilation: Cotton dust caused lung diseases like byssinosis ("brown lung").
At Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire, for example, there are several accounts of accidents. (source of the following three paragraphs courtesy of https://quarrybankmill.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/accidents-at-quarry-bank-mill-the-mill-series-2-episode-2/)
In 1806, a young boy called Thomas Priestley recounted his accident to the Magistrates’, when he was put before them after running away:
“About 2 months before I left the place…one of the wheels caught my finger and tore it off; it was the forefinger on my left hand. I was attended by the surgeon at the factory, Mr Holland and in about 6 weeks I recovered.”
Joseph Davenport was 25 years old and an assistant to one of the weaving overlookers. On 23rd June 1845, he was working on a loom when his shirt sleeve was caught on the drive belt which “snatched him up to the drum.” Joseph’s arm was completely ripped off. He was immediately taken to Manchester Infirmery on the back of a cart. His arm was amputated, but sadly, after lingering for a few days, Joseph died from his injuries.
On 1st April 1881, William Bowker, was working as a carder. The carding machine cleans the raw cotton and brushes the fibres into alignment, ready for it to be twisted into a workable thread. William had to “press down the fly”, which was usually done using a metal rod – on this occasion William pressed it with his hand which was “drawn in by the licker in” and performed a horrifying trick known as “degloving” – his skin and flesh was peeled off by the needles used to clean and align the cotton. William was taken to Stockport Infirmery where his arm was amputated. “He recovered in the course of time and came back to work again; a mechanical arm being provided for him by the firm”
Coal Mining Disasters
- Frequent mine collapses, explosions (due to methane gas), and flooding killed hundreds. Many of these disasters can be found on our Memorial page
- "Black Lung" (pneumoconiosis) from coal dust became widespread.
Early Reforms: The Factory Acts
Growing public outrage led to the first workplace safety laws:
- 1802 Health and Morals of Apprentices Act: Limited child labour to 12 hours/day in cotton mills.
- 1833 Factory Act: Banned children under 9 from textile factories and introduced factory inspectors.
- 1842 Mines Act: Prohibited women and children from working underground.
Victorian Era (1840–1900): Worker Advocacy and Compensation
Trade Unions and Worker Protests
- The Matchgirls’ Strike (1888): Female workers at Bryant & May protested “phossy jaw” (also known as phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, or osteonecrosis), a horrific bone disease caused by white phosphorus.
- Trade Unions Congress (TUC, 1868): Advocated for safer workplaces and workers' rights.
Workers’ Compensation
- 1897 Workmen’s Compensation Act: First UK law requiring employers to pay injured workers.
Early 20th Century: Major Disasters and Legal Reforms
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire New York (1911) Influence
Exit doors were locked to stop workers sneaking out, and when a fire started, it took just 30 minutes for it to kill 146 workers, mainly women and girls. Though in the US, this disaster, along with other fires on this side of the Atlantic, eventually pushed the UK to strengthen fire safety laws.
Key Legislation
- 1911 National Insurance Act: Provided sick pay for workers.
- 1937 Factories Act: Improved ventilation, lighting, and machinery safety.
Post-WWII: The Welfare State and Modern OHS
The Robens Report (1972)
A landmark review, which originated after the Aberfan Disaster, found UK safety laws were outdated and fragmented, leading to:
- 1974 Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA): The foundation of modern UK OHS, requiring employers to ensure worker safety.
- Creation of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE): The regulatory body enforcing workplace laws in most workplaces.
In 1974, there were 651 workplace deaths in the UK. In 2023, the figure was 135. This drop is because of Robens, the Act and the HSE, and the improvements to workplace safety that were introduced.
Major Industrial Disasters and Responses
- Flixborough Disaster (1974): A chemical plant explosion killed 28, leading to stricter hazardous industry regulations.
- Piper Alpha (1988): North Sea oil rig explosion (167 deaths) resulted in offshore safety reforms.
21st Century: New Challenges and Innovations
Modern Workplace Risks and Opportunities
- Mental health: Stress and burnout now recognized as workplace hazards.
- Gig economy: Uber, Deliveroo workers lack traditional protections.
- Automation: Robotics and AI introduce new safety concerns and solutions.
- Climate Change
Key Developments
- 2005 Corporate Manslaughter Act: Allowed companies to be prosecuted for fatal negligence.
- COVID-19 Pandemic (2020–present): Remote work, PPE shortages, and workplace hygiene laws reshaped OHS. I personally found that smaller businesses, who may have previously “winged it” when it came to health and safety, needed risk assessments to open and trade, and therefore changed their attitude to OHS.
Conclusion: The Future of OHS in the UK
From medieval guilds to AI-driven workplaces, the UK’s approach to occupational safety has continually adapted. Future challenges include climate change-related risks, mental health prioritisation, and global supply chain safety. The legacy of British labour reforms continues to influence global workplace standards.
