The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026: implications for UK health and safety law and regulatory compliance

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026: what UK health and safety law changes mean for your business

What has changed

These Regulations amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The instrument adjusts how certain activities within the regulatory framework are defined and applied under UK health and safety law. The change may affect organisations that deliver regulated activities and how they are registered and overseen by the regulator.

Why this matters

UK health and safety law relies on clear definitions of regulated activities and robust governance. The amendment can influence registration obligations, accountability for compliance, and how inspections are conducted. For duty holders, the update has implications for risk management, governance and ongoing compliance across health and safety management systems.

What organisations should do next

Key actions to consider now include:

• Review the scope of your regulated activities to determine whether the amendments affect what you deliver under the Health and Social Care Act.
• Check and, if needed, update your regulatory registration details and the registrable activities listed.
• Update risk assessments and control measures to reflect any changes in obligations or thresholds introduced by the amendment.
• Revise policies, procedures and training to reflect updated requirements and ensure appropriate worker consultation and competence oversight.
• Revisit contractor and supplier arrangements to ensure practices align with the new regime and there is clear accountability for compliance.
• Align your management system with the updated requirements, for example using ISO 45001 to support systematic risk control and legal compliance, and consider specialist support if needed. See ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management.

Where applicable, discuss the importance of competent advice and risk assessment practices: Competent Person support and health and safety risk assessments.

Engage workers and frontline managers to capture practical insights and identify implementation challenges. Plan a phased approach if required and establish milestones for monitoring and review.

Maintaining a clear link between governance, risk management and day to day health and safety practice will support timely compliance with the updated regime and reduce the risk of enforcement actions.

As part of ongoing compliance planning, organisations may consider health and safety support packages and training to build internal capability and resilience.

In summary, the amendment highlights the need for proactive governance and robust risk control across health and safety obligations. Timely review and planned implementation will support ongoing regulatory compliance and safer operations.