1974 Act 40th anniversary

Since its inception worker fatalities have dropped almost 80% and non-fatal injuries are down by more than three-quarters.

John Hannett, general secretary at trade union Usdaw describes it as ‘one of the most important pieces of legislation that Labour, or indeed any government, has ever introduced,’ adding: “This legislation has stood the test of time and much of the original vision and framework of the 1974 Act remains relevant today. The principles have been applied time and again to new and emerging technologies and sectors and the legacy is a safety record envied around the world.”