The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 16 October 2008 and came into force on 1 January 2009. It amends Section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has increased penalties for breaches of health and safety legislation. It also provides the courts with greater sentencing powers for those who flout health and safety law.

Under the  Act  the maximum penalty that can be imposed for breaching health and safety regulations in the lower courts has been increased from £5,000 to £20,000 and the range of offences for which an individual can be imprisoned has also been broadened.

The changes are intended to allow more health and safety prosecutions to be dealt with in the lower courts and also to make the threat of imprisonment a reality for more blameworthy offences.

View the Health and Safety Executive's guide to health and safety law.