Health and Safety for Garages: What UK Owners Need to Know

Health and safety law in the UK applies to every garage that employs people — and to sole traders, too, where they interact with the public. The legislation is not complicated in principle, but the specific requirements for workshops catch many garage owners out. This guide covers the main obligations you actually need to meet and what that looks like in practice.

This guide is for general information only. Consult a qualified health and safety adviser and refer to official HSE guidance for your specific situation.

Who is responsible for health and safety in a garage

As the garage owner or employer, you are legally responsible for health and safety on your premises. This duty extends to your employees, to self-employed contractors working on site, and to anyone else who might be affected by your work — including customers waiting in the reception area while work is carried out.

If you employ five or more people, you must have a written health and safety policy. Even if you employ fewer than five, the substance of the law still applies — you just do not have to write the policy down. In practice, having written procedures is advisable regardless of size: it protects you if something goes wrong.

The main risks in a workshop environment

Vehicle workshops contain a specific set of hazards that make them higher-risk than most workplaces. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identifies the following as the primary risks in automotive workshops:

• Vehicle movement — vehicles being driven in and out of the workshop, on ramps, or moved by staff on foot create collision risk
• Work at height — working under vehicles on ramps or pits, and working on roof-level equipment
• Lifting and manual handling — heavy components, wheels, batteries, and exhausts
• Hazardous substances — engine oils, brake fluid, brake cleaner, battery acid, exhaust gases, and welding fumes
• Noise — impact tools, engine running, and extraction equipment
• Fire and explosion — petrol, brake cleaner, and other flammable substances
• Electrical — high-voltage systems in hybrid and electric vehicles, and workshop electrical equipment

Your legal obligations as a garage employer

The primary legislation is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), which places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and others. Supporting regulations add specific requirements:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — requires suitable risk assessments for all significant hazards, with records kept if you employ five or more people
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) — requires assessment and control of exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) — applies to vehicle lifts and any other lifting equipment used at work
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) — applies to all workshop equipment including pneumatic tools, grinders, and tyre machines
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — requires a fire risk assessment and appropriate fire precautions
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 — requires you to provide appropriate PPE free of charge where risks cannot be adequately controlled otherwise

COSHH: managing chemicals safely

COSHH requires you to identify every hazardous substance used in your workshop, assess the risks it presents, and put controls in place. In practice, for a garage, this means:

• Obtaining a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every chemical product used — your supplier must provide these
• Assessing how each substance is used, who is exposed, and in what quantities
• Putting controls in place: ventilation, PPE, safe storage, and safe disposal
• Keeping records of your assessments
• Training staff on safe handling

Welding fumes deserve particular attention. Since 2019, HSE has been clear that all welding fumes — including those from mild steel — are carcinogenic. Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is required for any welding in an enclosed space. If you have welding fumes extraction equipment, it must be examined by a competent person every 14 months.

Battery charging areas also require specific controls: charging lead-acid batteries produces hydrogen gas, which is explosive. Charging should take place in a ventilated area away from ignition sources.

Lifting equipment regulations (LOLER and PUWER)

Vehicle lifts are subject to LOLER, which requires that all lifting equipment used at work is:

• Strong and stable enough for its intended use
• Positioned and installed safely
• Clearly marked with its safe working load (SWL)
• Subject to thorough examination by a competent person at regular intervals

For vehicle lifts, LOLER requires a thorough examination every six months. This is not the same as a service — it is a formal inspection by a competent engineer (typically an insurance engineer or specialist inspection company) who checks the lift's structural integrity, safety mechanisms, and condition. You must keep the written report of each examination. If the inspector issues a deficiency notice, the lift must not be used until the defect is rectified.

PUWER applies more broadly — to pneumatic tools, tyre changers, wheel balancers, jacks, and all other workshop equipment. It requires that equipment is suitable for its intended use, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected where necessary.

Fire safety in a garage workshop

Garages are at higher fire risk than most workplaces because of the presence of petrol, solvents, and other flammable substances. Under the Fire Safety Order, you must:

• Carry out a fire risk assessment and review it regularly
• Minimise fire hazards — safe storage of flammables, no smoking policies, control of ignition sources
• Provide appropriate fire-fighting equipment — typically CO2 and dry powder extinguishers in a workshop environment, with suitable extinguishers for the specific risks present
• Ensure means of escape are clear and unobstructed at all times
• Test fire alarms regularly and keep records
• Train staff on what to do in a fire

Petrol must be stored in approved containers and in limited quantities in the workplace. Check HSE guidance on the Petroleum Consolidation Regulations for the specific requirements.

Record keeping and risk assessments

Every risk assessment should be written down. That does not mean a lengthy report — a clear, practical document that identifies the hazard, who is at risk, what controls are in place, and who is responsible for maintaining those controls is sufficient. Review assessments annually and whenever a significant change occurs (new equipment, new chemicals, a change in working practice).

Keep records of: LOLER examinations, COSHH assessments, fire risk assessments, equipment maintenance, PPE issue, and staff training. If something goes wrong and there is an investigation, these records are your primary evidence that you were managing risks responsibly.

Running a compliant, well-documented garage is easier with the right systems in place. Garagess helps you keep job records, equipment notes, and customer records in one place — one less pile of paper to manage. If you want to see how it works, get in touch.