Back in 2011 the Government accepted a recommendation given by the Löfstedt report stating that “those self-employed whose work activities pose no potential risk of harm to others should be exempt from health and safety law”.
For health and safety law purposes, ‘self-employed’ means that you work only for yourself and do NOT work under a contract of employment.
If you are specifically mentioned in the regulations and your work poses potential risk…. etc then the health and safety law still applies to you. However from the 1st October 2015 if your work is not in the regulations AND no risk is posed you’re no longer governed by the health and safety laws.
Health and Safety Executive estimate that 1.7 Million self employed people will no longer apply to their line of work.
