This timeline of health and safety legislation and events is shared from the HSE site.
1800
1833
HM Factory Inspectorate was formed

1843
Mines Inspectorate was formed

1893
The first women factory inspector were appointed

“I doubt very much whether the office of factory inspector is one suitable for women… The general and multifarious duties of an inspector of factories would really be incompatible with the gentle and home-loving character of a woman…”After several years of campaigning by the Women’s Protective and Provident League, the London Women’s Trades Council and others and amid growing support in Parliament, the first “Lady Inspectors”, May Abraham and Mary Paterson were appointed in 1893. They were based in London and Glasgow respectively and earned an annual salary of £200. Much of their early work involved enforcing the Truck Acts, investigating women’s hours of employment and enforcing health and safety in laundries.
1895
The Quarry Inspectorate was formed

1900
1956
Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956

1959
Nuclear Installations Act 1959 which established the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate


1974
Flixborough chemical plant explosion (28 fatalities)

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Health and Safety Commission established

1975
Health and Safety Executive was formed

First HSC advisory committees established

1976
First HSC annual report published

1977
Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977/500)

1979
Golborne Colliery disaster (10 fatalities)

1980
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 (S.I. 1980/1248)

Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (S.I. 1980/637)

1981
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (S.I. 1981/917)

1983
150th anniversary of HM Factory Inspectorate

HSE starts to enforce asbestos licensing industry

Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (S.I. 1983/1649)

HSE starts to enforce genetic manipulation regulations

1984
HSE starts to enforce domestic gas safety

Abbeystead pumping station (16 fatalities)

Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984/1902)

1985
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (S.I. 1985/2023)

Putney domestic gas explosion (8 fatalities)

HSE starts to enforce transport of dangerous goods by road safety

Fire at Bradford City Football Stadium – Valley Parade

Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 (1985 No 1333)

1986
HSE starts to enforce pesticide safety

1987
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/2115
)

Kings Cross underground station fire (31 fatalities)

1988
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (S.I. 1988/1657
)

Clapham train crash (35 fatalities)

Piper Alpha oil installation fire and explosion (167 fatalities)

1989
Noise at Work Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1790
)

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/635)

Hillsborough disaster

1990
HSE starts to enforce rail safety


HSE starts to carry out nuclear safety research

1991
HSE starts to enforce offshore safety

1992
‘Six pack’ regulations

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/3004
)

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2793
)

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2792
)

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2932
)

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2966
)

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2051
)
1993
150th anniversary of the Mines Inspectorate

1994
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/3140)

Major Review of Regulation completed

1995
100th anniversary of the Quarry Inspectorate

Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) becomes an agency of HSE


1996
Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1592
)

1997
Southall rail accident

1998
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2451
)

1999
40th anniversary of the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate

Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/743
)

Ladbroke Grove train crash (31 fatalities)

Bill Callaghan appointed as Chair of the Health and Safety Commission

2000
2000
‘Revitalising health and safety strategy’ launched

‘Securing health together occupational health strategy for Great Britain’ launched

2004
HSC’s ‘Strategy for workplace health and safety to 2010 and beyond’ launched

Morecambe Bay: death of cockle-pickers (21 fatalities)

HSE’s Infoline service received its 2 millionth call

HSC’s ‘Strategy for workplace health and safety to 2010 and beyond’ launched

Explosion at ICL Plastic factory, Maryhill, Glasgow


2005
Buncefield explosion




2006
Transfer of responsibility for railway safety from HSE to the Office of the Rail Regulator


Workplace Health Connect launched

Redgrave Court new headquarters officially opened

2007
Responsibility for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) passes to HSE.

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2007) (S.I. 2007/320
) launched.

Bill Callaghan is knighted for his services to health and safety

Judith Hackitt appointed as new Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, following on from the retirement of Sir Bill Callaghan

HSE takes on responsibility for the security activities of the Office for Nuclear Security (OCNS) and UK Safeguards Office (UKSO)


The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) European Union regulations come into force in the UK and across Europe

Responsibility for the Adventure Licensing Authority (AALA) passes to HSE.

2008
HSC/HSE merges to form one organisation

Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008



Pesticides Safety Directorate transfers to HSE


2009
Gas Safe Register – 10 year contract to Capita

Health and safety law poster replaced – after 10 years service!

HSE launches strategy for the health and safety of GB

2010
Health and Safety Pledge Forum launched

HSE introduces new Safety Alerts

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1140)


Lord Young’s review of health and safety, ‘Common Sense – Common Safety’ is published

2011
Occupational Safety Consultants Register (OSHCR)


The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) launched 1 April


HSL celebrates 100 years

Lőfstedt report published

2012
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/632
) launched

Fee for Intervention (FFI) launched 1 October


2013
The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (S.I. 2013/645
)


Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/448
)
The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/448 ) came into force on 6 April 2013. These Regulations are designed to revoke a series of redundant and / or out of date legislation, including one Act and twelve statutory instruments. HSE has introduced these Regulations as part of a process of ensuring that employers can quickly understand their duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment for employees.