The phrase ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ is key to understanding the general duties an employer has under the UK’s most important piece of health and safety legislation, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Under the Act, for example, employers must ensure their employees and others who may be affected by their activities are protected from harm ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’. 

Nick Wilson looks at how far businesses need to go to protect their employees. 

Read more in People Management.