- Companies Act 2006 (Section 172)
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- HSE Guidance INDG417: Leading Health and Safety at Work
Director duties
Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 and health and safety law, directors have a personal duty to ensure that the company complies with its health and safety obligations. Failure can result in personal prosecution. The HSWA 1974 underpins these duties.
What good board governance looks like
- A clear, board-approved health and safety policy
- Regular reporting of health and safety performance to the board
- Evidence of active monitoring and review
- A competent person appointed and resourced
- Incident data analysed for trends, not just individual events
The HSE guidance INDG417 explains leading health and safety at work.
How LRMS supports boards
We provide board reporting packs that translate operational data into governance-ready insight: action tracker status, audit findings, incident trends, and upcoming review deadlines — so directors can demonstrate oversight without drowning in detail.
Cited Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
Do directors have personal health and safety responsibilities?
Yes. Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 and the HSWA 1974, directors have a personal duty to ensure company compliance with health and safety obligations. Failure can result in personal prosecution.
What does good board health and safety governance look like?
Good governance includes a board-approved policy, regular performance reporting, evidence of monitoring and review, a resourced competent person, and incident data analysed for trends.
How does LRMS support board-level health and safety?
LRMS provides board reporting packs that translate operational data into governance-ready insight — action tracker status, audit findings, incident trends, and upcoming review deadlines.
About Louanne Lanahan
Founder & Director · CMIOSH · OSHCR
Chartered Safety Practitioner (CMIOSH), registered on OSHCR, MIFSM, AIFireE, and NFRAR. Founder and Director of Lanahan Risk Management Services Ltd since 2014.