What training does UK law require? Fire, DSE, manual handling, COSHH, GDPR and induction
What UK law says on staff training: fire, display screens, manual handling, COSHH, data protection and induction, and how often. Quoted from the law.
Reigniter teamPublished Reviewed on 5 min readOn this page
Every UK employer has to train its people, but the rules are spread across six pieces of law and guidance, and most of what you read online adds deadlines the law does not set. This is what the law itself says, quoted from legislation.gov.uk, the HSE and the ICO on 19 October 2026, with the links.
This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the linked source for your own premises and risks.
Key takeaways
- Every employer must give health and safety training at induction and when risks change.
- The laws covered here set no fixed refresher interval. They say "repeated periodically where appropriate"; yearly cycles come from guidance or providers.
- Training must be in working hours for health and safety and fire safety training.
- Display screen training must happen before someone becomes a regular user.
- Data protection has no general training duty in the UK GDPR, but the ICO expects initial and refresher training.
At a glance
| Topic | The law | When training is due |
|---|---|---|
| Health and safety induction | HSWA 1974 s.2(2)(c); Management Regulations 1999 reg. 13 | On recruitment, and on new or increased risks |
| Fire safety (England and Wales) | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, art. 21 | When first employed, and on new or increased risks |
| Display screen equipment | DSE Regulations 1992, reg. 6 | Before someone becomes a user, and when the workstation is substantially modified |
| Manual handling | General duties (HSWA s.2, Management Regulations regs. 10 and 13), per HSE | Before or as close to starting the job as possible, with updates when necessary |
| Hazardous substances | COSHH 2002, reg. 12 | Where staff may be exposed; adapted to significant changes |
| Data protection | UK GDPR arts. 32 and 39, ICO guidance | ICO: initial and refresher training |
Health and safety induction
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 2 requires "the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees".
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 13 makes it specific: "Every employer shall ensure that his employees are provided with adequate health and safety training— (a) on their being recruited into the employer's undertaking; and (b) on their being exposed to new or increased risks". Training must "be repeated periodically where appropriate", "be adapted to take account of any new or changed risks" and "take place during working hours". HSE's INDG345 says new recruits need basic induction training "including arrangements for first aid, fire and evacuation". A sourced list is in the health and safety induction checklist.
Fire safety
In England and Wales, article 21 of the Fire Safety Order says employees must be "provided with adequate safety training— (a) at the time when they are first employed; and (b) on their being exposed to new or increased risks". It must be repeated periodically where appropriate and take place during working hours. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire rules. More in fire safety training for employees.
Display screen equipment
Regulation 6 of the DSE Regulations requires "adequate health and safety training in the use of any workstation", provided "before he becomes a user", and again when a workstation is substantially modified. HSE says the rules "apply to workers who use DSE daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more". More in DSE training: what the law requires.
Manual handling
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 have no stand-alone training duty. HSE's guidance L23 points to "Section 2 of the HSW Act and regulations 10 and 13 of the Management Regulations". HSE's training page lists what it should cover: risk factors and how injuries happen, mechanical aids, safe handling technique, systems of work and practical work. More in manual handling training requirements.
Hazardous substances (COSHH)
COSHH regulation 12: "Every employer who undertakes work which is liable to expose an employee to a substance hazardous to health shall provide that employee with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training." It must cover, among other things, the substances and their risks, the safety data sheets and the significant findings of the risk assessment. HSE adds that this includes cleaning and maintenance staff. More in COSHH training requirements.
Data protection
The UK GDPR has no general training duty. Article 32(4) requires steps so that anyone with access to personal data only processes it on instructions, and the ICO's guide to data security says: "You should provide appropriate initial and refresher training". The ICO notes its guidance is under review after the Data (Use and Access) Act. More in GDPR training for staff.
Keeping records
HSE says: "Keeping training records will help you decide if refresher training is needed". A record of who completed which module, and when, is also how you show a regulator or insurer the training happened.
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- health and safety training
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- COSHH training
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