Environment & Safety Regulatory Compliance Lawyers

The business world is becoming an increasingly regulated place. Whether environmental law, health and safety or other regulations, it’s important your business stays compliant.

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How Irwin Mitchell can help your business with environmental and safety law

We have experience acting in high profile disputes with regulators, as well as providing solution-focused, commercial advice to manage potential liabilities. 

You can expect a highly responsive service from our dedicated team, as well as benefitting from our:

  • Commercial focus
    Our team has a strong commercial sense – we aim to find ways to get projects moving, while protecting your business’s interests and reputation
  • Experienced advice
    We have acted in many high-profile cases, and have experience helping businesses of all sizes
    National network of offices
  • National network of offices
    We have a team of lawyers, spread throughout the UK. Because of our size we can quickly respond to any request – no matter how big or urgent
  • Full Service
    Irwin Mitchell is a full-service law firm, meaning that we offer a comprehensive range of legal services under a single umbrella
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Services within environment and safety regulatory compliance

  • Food Safety & Environmental Health

    Companies in the food industry face strict statutory requirements. From supply chains to product labelling, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must meet food safety and environmental health requirements or risk enforcement action.

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  • Report Workplace Accidents

    If an employee has an accident at work, you have a statutory duty to record and report it. Even with robust safety measures, occurrences can still happen, and it’s important to follow the right process to stay compliant and safeguard your workforce.

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  • Health & Safety Investigations

    Health and safety law creates strict obligations for employers. When incidents occur, you could face investigations, proceedings, or even corporate manslaughter charges. Having the right guidance at the earliest stage is vital to safeguard your team and your credibility. 

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Who are the main regulators for environment and safety in the UK?

Environmental and safety regulation in the UK is delivered through a network of national and regional bodies, each responsible for overseeing compliance, issuing permits, and taking enforcement action where necessary. The key regulators include:

Environment and Environmental Protection Regulators

  • Environment Agency (EA) – The primary environmental regulator for England, responsible for permits, pollution prevention, waste regulation and enforcement.
  • Natural Resources Wales (NRW) – Regulates environmental impacts across Wales, including air, land and water protection, agricultural activities, and waste.
  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) – Scotland’s main environmental regulator, overseeing pollution control, waste management and environmental compliance.
  • Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) – Regulates air and water quality, waste, and biodiversity protection in Northern Ireland.

Health and Safety Regulators

  • Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – The UK-wide regulator for workplace health and safety, responsible for enforcement, inspections, investigations, and major hazard regulation across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, waste and recycling, agriculture and offshore operations.
  • Local Authorities – These work alongside HSE to regulate health and safety in lower‑risk workplaces and to manage environmental responsibilities such as waste, noise, and pollution at a local level.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can help protect your organisation and keep you compliant.

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What are my main legal duties as an employer?

Employers in the UK have a legal duty to protect staff, visitors and the public under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires you to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by your work activities. 

Key responsibilities include:

Our specialist Environment & Safety team supports employers across all sectors with clear, practical advice on legal duties, risk management and regulatory compliance.

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Meet an expert from our Environment & Safety team

Our team support you to navigate complexity, seize opportunity and move forward with legal clarity.

Philip Somarakis
Philip Somarakis
National Head of Regulatory & Partner
Find out more

What are my businesses' responsibilities regarding environmental law and stability?

Businesses in the UK have a duty of care to ensure that any waste or environmental impact from their operations is managed safely, responsibly and in compliance with regulatory requirements. 

Key responsibilities include:

  • Applying the duty of care to all controlled waste and environmental impacts your business creates
  • Adopting sustainability and responsibility standards (SRS) to improve environmental performance
  • Following the polluter‑pays principle, meaning your business takes financial responsibility for any environmental harm it causes. 

Get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can support your business in meeting its environmental responsibilities.

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What legal support can we offer for safety and environmental matters?

We provide advice and support to clients across a range of industries, with particular expertise in the construction, mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. 

 

Our safety and environmental lawyers offer businesses a range of services, including:

  • Advice on regulatory compliance
  • Consultancy on the potential liabilities of business transactions
  • Training on your duties as a business, or as an individual
  • Advice and representation if you are facing an investigation or prosecution
  • Reputation management following an investigation or prosecution
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Speak to a specialist

We are here to help you understand your rights and the support you need. Complete our enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you by the next working day.


 

Alternatively, you can call us now.


 

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (Excluding Public Holidays).

Call us free on 0370 1500 100

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