Introduction to Fire Safety Management

15.11
The Building Regulations 2000
The Secretary of State is empowered by the Building 
Act 1984 to approve and issue documents contain-
ing practical guidance with respect to the requirements 
contained in these regulations. The Building Regulations 
2000 (SI 2000/2531) issued under the Building Act came 
into force on 1 January 2001 and replaced the Building 
Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2768) and consolidated a 
number of revisions and amendments.
Employer liability insurance will normally be required 
for volunteers although not in the case of:
➤
Students working unpaid
➤
People taking part in youth or adult training schemes
➤
School students on a work experience programme.
The employer must display a copy of their current certifi -
cate of insurance where their employees can easily read 
it and retain copies of expired certifi cates for at least 
40 years from expiry (applies to policies in force from 
31 December 1998 onwards).
Expired certifi cates may be stored electronically 
but they must be made available to health and safety 
inspectors if requested.
Failure to have employer liability insurance may 
result in:
➤
A 
fi ne of £2500 for any day which the employer is 
without suitable insurance
➤
A 
fi ne of £1000 for failing to display the certifi cate of 
insurance or for failing to make the certifi cate avail-
able on request.
Employer liability
Employer liability
insurance required 
insurance not required
• The employer deducts
• The people do not work
National Insurance and
exclusively for the 
income tax from the
employer
money paid to the people
• The employer has control
• The people supply most 
over where and when the
of the equipment and 
people work 
materials for the job
• The employer supplies 
themselves
most materials and 
• The people are clearly in
equipment for the people 
business for personal 
to use 
benefi t
• The employer has a right to
• The people can employ 
profi t made by the people 
a substitute where they 
• The employer requires the 
are unable to do the 
person to deliver the 
work themselves
service personally and 
• The employer does not
does not allow them to 
deduct national 
employ a substitute if they 
insurance or income tax
are unable to do the work 
from the money paid.
• The employer treats the 
person in the same way 
as other employees.

---