Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Changes over time for: Section 38

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Changes to legislation:

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 38 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 June 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 38:

s. 51B inserted by 2026 asc 5 Sch. 3 para. 1

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 51B inserted by 2026 asc 5 Sch. 3 para. 1

38 Restrictions on institution of proceedings in England and Wales.U.K.

Proceedings for an offence under any of the relevant statutory provisions shall not, in England and Wales, be instituted except by an inspector [F1[F2, the Environment Agency or the Natural Resources Body for Wales] or] by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 38 inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(7) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F2Words in s. 38 substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (No. 755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 113 (with Sch. 7)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 38 applied by S.I. 1989/840, arts. 2-10

S. 38 excluded (with saving) (E.W.S.) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/1840, regs. 7, 9

S. 38 extended (E.W.S.) (1.10.1996) by S.I. 1996/1513, reg. 10

Ss. 18(6)(7)(b), 19-22, 23(1)(2)(5), 24-26, 33(1)(e)-(h)(o)(2)(2A)(3)(4)(e), 34(3)-(5), 35, 36(1)(2), 37-39, 42 applied (with modifications) (9.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3260, reg. 17(3)(5)

S. 38: power to apply conferred (E.W.S.) (28.8.1995) by 1995 c. 15, ss. 2(4)(i), 5 (with s. 3(5))

Ss. 18-27, 33(1)(e)-(i)(n)(o)(2)-(4), 34(2)-(6), 36(1), 37-42, 46 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (16.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/772, reg. 17

Ss. 19-28, 33-35, 38, 39, 41, 42 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/192, reg. 15, Sch. 14 para. 1(b)

Ss. 19-28, 33-35, 38, 39, 41, 42 applied (with modifications) (1.7.1997) by S.I. 1997/831, reg. 19(1)-(4), Sch. 15 para. 1(a)(b)

Ss. 16-26, 33-42, 47 applied (15.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2831, reg. 26(1)(a)

C2S. 38 applied (with modifications) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 28, Sch. 6 para. 1(b)

S. 38 applied (15.2.1999) by 1998 c. 17, s. 20(3) (with s. 9(1)(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(1)); S.I. 1999/161, art. 2(1)(2)

C3Ss. 35-39 modified (6.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/711, regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b)(5)(a)

C4Ss. 33-42 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/743, reg. 20(1)(d) (with reg. 20(2)(3))

C5Ss. 33-42 applied (with modifications) (19.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2892, reg. 16(1)

Ss. 33-42 applied (20.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2975, reg. 19(d)

C6S. 38 applied (with modifications) (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2001, reg. 24(1), Sch. 8 para. 1(b)

C7Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (11.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2127, arts. 4(1), 5(1)(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(1), 10 (with art. 11) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1750, art. 2(2)(4))

Ss. 33-42 applied (E.W.S.) (24.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1689, reg. 14(1)(b)

Ss. 33-42 applied (16.5.2002) by S.I. 2002/1166, reg. 31 (with art. 37)

C8S. 38 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (22.3.2003 for certain purposes and 22.9.2003 otherwise) by S.I. 2003/403, regs. 1(2), 23(2)(a)(3)

C9S. 38 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (3.5.2004) by S.I. 2004/129, reg. 23(3)(e); s. 38 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (9.6.2004) by S.I. 2004/1309, reg. 17; s. 38 applied (E.W.S.) (22.4.2005) by S.I. 2005/928, reg. 4(2)(3)(5)(6); s. 38 applied (2.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/397, reg. 34(3)(d)

C10Ss. 37-41 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (the amendment coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Channel Tunnel (Safety) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3531), art. 4(2)(3)(h) (subject to art. 4(4)-(6) and with art. 7)

C11Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (temp.) (5.8.2009) by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2127), arts. 8A, 8B (as inserted by S.I. 2009/1750, art. 2(3))

C12Ss. 33-42 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (12.8.2009 with application in accordance with reg. 3 of the amending S.I.) by The Major Accident Off-Site Emergency Plan (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1927), reg. 9(1)

C13Ss. 37-41 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (6.4.2010) by The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/432), reg. 6(2)(3)(g)

C14Ss. 37-41 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (6.4.2010) by The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/724), regs. 1(2), 38(2)(3)(g)

C15S. 38 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (4.7.2010 for certain purposes and otherwise 4.7.2013) by The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1554), regs. 1, 18, 37(1), Sch. 4 paras. 1, 2

C16Ss. 1-59 applied by S.I. 2001/2127 art. 8A 8B (as inserted (E.W.S.) (6.4.2011) by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/745), arts. 1(1), 3(2))

C17Ss. 37-41 applied (with modifications) (16.1.2012) by The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/3066), regs. 1(2), 39(2)(3)(g) (with reg. 3)

C18Ss. 33-42 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.9.2013) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1506), regs. 2(1), 8(1) (with reg. 3(4), (5), 8(2)-(7), 31, 32, 33(1))

C19Ss. 33-42 applied (1.3.2014) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1506), regs. 2(4), 19 (with reg. 3(4)(5)31 32 33(1))

C20S. 38 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.10.2014) by The Explosives Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1638), reg. 1(1), Sch. 12 paras. 2, 3

C21Ss. 33-42 applied (1.10.2014) by The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1663), regs. 1, 30(2)(a) (with reg. 3(1)(2))

C22Ss. 33-42 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.6.2015) by The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1506), regs. 2(2), 17(1) (with regs. 3(4)(5), 31, 32, 33(1))