What should you consider?

For most clinics, a simple Plan → Do → Check → Act approach provides a useful framework.

• Provide a safe environment for patients, visitors and anyone working in your clinic.
• Identify and manage relevant risks, such as slips and trips, equipment safety, infection prevention, fire and lone working.
• Keep treatment and electrical equipment appropriately maintained. Electrical testing and inspection should reflect the equipment and the environment in which it is used.
• Have appropriate first aid arrangements, including suitable equipment and emergency procedures.
• Classify, segregate and dispose of healthcare and sanitary waste appropriately for the type of waste your practice produces.
• Report specified work-related injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences where required under RIDDOR.
• If you employ people, display the Health & Safety Law Poster in a prominent position or provide workers with the equivalent leaflet.

If you are a solo practitioner

If you work independently, your Health & Safety arrangements can be straightforward, but you still need to consider the risks created by your work and practice environment.

• Keep a simple record of relevant risks, actions taken and any further action required.
• Follow appropriate infection prevention and cleaning arrangements.
• Arrange appropriate healthcare and sanitary waste disposal where required.
• Keep equipment appropriately maintained and record servicing or checks where useful.
• Have appropriate lone-working arrangements if you undertake home visits, work alone or hold late sessions.

If you have five or more employees, significant risk-assessment findings and your Health & Safety policy need to be recorded in writing.

View HSE small business guidance

If you have associates or staff

If you employ staff, your responsibilities extend to protecting their Health & Safety while they are at work.

• Have clear arrangements for managing Health & Safety within the practice.
• If you have five or more employees, your Health & Safety policy must be written down.
• Provide appropriate induction, information and training relevant to the person's role and the risks within your practice.
• Provide appropriate welfare facilities, including toilets, hand-washing facilities and drinking water.
• Carry out suitable risk assessments for the premises and work activities.
• If your organisation has more than 10 employees, you must keep an accident book or equivalent record that meets the relevant requirements.

View HSE managing Health & Safety guidance

Health & Safety checklist

Use this as a simple prompt to review the main arrangements within your practice.

• Fire risk assessment completed and appropriate fire-safety arrangements are in place.
• Fire exits and escape routes are clear.
• First aid arrangements are appropriate and emergency information is available.
• Healthcare and sanitary waste arrangements are appropriate for the waste your practice produces.
• Treatment couches, reformers and other equipment are appropriately maintained.
• Floors, lighting, ventilation and other aspects of the clinic environment are safe.
• Risk assessments remain current and are reviewed when circumstances or working practices change.
• Lone-working arrangements are in place where relevant.
• Staff induction and relevant training are recorded where appropriate.

Official Health & Safety information

For detailed information and current legal guidance, use the Health & Safety Executive resources relevant to your practice.

Visit HSE Health & Safety guidance