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Ethics & culture

Workplace Health & Safety

Explain everyone's responsibilities for health and safety at work, covering common office and hybrid-working risks under UK law.

Duration: ~15 min Accreditation: CPD accredited (CII) Last updated: April 2026 Reviewed by: Margaret Hassett
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What is the Health and Safety at Work Act and why does it matter?

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the foundation of UK workplace safety law. It places a duty on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers so far as is reasonably practicable. It matters because every workplace carries risk, and those duties follow staff home and into every hybrid setting.

Who needs workplace health and safety training?

This training is designed for all employees, including those who work from home or split their time between home and the office. Even in office-based financial services firms, risks such as poor workstation set-up, trailing cables and blocked fire exits accumulate over time, so a shared understanding of duties and reporting helps fix hazards early.

What does workplace health and safety training cover?

This short course explains everyone’s responsibilities in plain English. It helps staff recognise common risks across both office and home-working environments and shows how to set up a safe workstation, including display screen equipment (DSE), wherever they work. It also covers the basics that matter in a crisis: fire safety, first aid and reporting hazards and incidents.

What does UK law expect on workplace health and safety?

UK law places a duty on employers to protect workers so far as is reasonably practicable, and a matching duty on employees to take reasonable care of themselves and others. These duties apply equally to home and hybrid settings, and DSE regulations require employers to assess workstations and help staff set them up safely wherever they work.

What your team will learn

  • Identify employer and employee duties under UK health and safety law
  • Recognise common risks in office and home-working environments
  • Recognise how to set up a safe workstation and report hazards
  • Recognise fire safety, first aid and incident reporting basics

What's included

  • ~15 min of focused, scenario-based learning
  • CPD accredited (CII)
  • Built-in quiz with a configurable pass mark
  • Reviewed and kept current with UK regulation
  • Time-stamped completion records for your audit trail

How it works

  1. Assign it in seconds

    Enrol a team, a role or your whole firm from the CityREPORTS dashboard, with automated reminders that chase completion for you.

  2. Your team completes it

    Learners work through the course at their own pace on any device, finishing with a short assessment that demonstrates understanding.

  3. Evidence it to the regulator

    Every completion is time-stamped and retained, so you can prove the right people did the right training at any moment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Health and Safety at Work Act?
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the foundation of UK workplace safety law. It places a duty on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers so far as is reasonably practicable, and a duty on employees to take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work.
Does health and safety law apply to home and hybrid working?
Yes. An employer's health and safety duties follow workers into home and hybrid settings, not just the office. That includes considering display screen equipment and safe workstation set-up wherever staff work. Employees also share responsibility for taking reasonable care and reporting hazards in their home-working environment.
Who needs workplace health and safety training?
All employees benefit, including those who work from home or split their time between home and the office. Even in office-based financial services firms, risks such as poor workstation set-up, trailing cables and blocked fire exits accumulate over time, so a shared understanding of duties and reporting helps fix hazards before they cause harm.
What is display screen equipment (DSE)?
Display screen equipment (DSE) means devices such as monitors, laptops and tablets used for work. Poorly set-up DSE can cause back, neck and eye strain over time, so UK regulations require employers to assess workstations and help staff set them up safely, which is a particular concern for desk-based and home-working teams.