Health and Safety British Standards
For ease of reference, this page contains details of a number of British Standards that are relevant to Health and Safety at Work. British Standards are often cited as 'best practice' and whilst they do not in themselves offer a statutory defence, compliance with the relevant standard will often result in an acquittal on enforcement proceedings through the use of 'best practicable means'.
Access equipment
BS 6037
Acoustic measurement/machine tools
BS 4813
Agricultural machinery: combine and forage harvesters
BS EN 632
Agricultural machinery: silage cutters
BS EN 703
Airborne noise emission - earth-moving machinery
BS 6812
- hydraulic transmission systems
BS 5944
- portable chain saws
BS 6916
Ambient air: determination of asbestos fibres - direct-transfer
transmission electron microscopy method
BS ISO 10312
Anchorages
- industrial safety harnesses
BS EN 795
- self-locking, industrial
BS EN 353, 355, 360, 362, 365
Arc welding equipment
BS 638
Artificial daylight lamps
- colour assessment
BS 950
- for sensitometry
BS 1380
Artificial lighting
BS 8206
Barriers, in and about buildings
BS 6180
Bromochlorodifluoromethane
- fire extinguishing systems
BS 5306
- fire extinguishers
BS 6535
Carbon steel welded horizontal
- cylindrical storage tanks
BS 2594
Carpet cleaners, electric, industrial use
BS 5415
Cellulose fibres
BS 1771
Chain lever hoists
BS 4898
Chain pulley blocks, hand-operated
BS 3243
Chain slings
- alloy steel
BS 3458
- high tensile steel
BS 2902
- steel use and maintenance
BS 6968
- welded
BS 6304
Chairs
- adjustable office furniture
BS 5459
- office furniture, design/dimensions
BS 5940
- office furniture, ergonomic design
BS 3044
Chemical protective clothing
- against gases and vapours
pr EN 464
- liquid chemicals
pr EN 463, 465, 466, 467, 468
Circular saws
- hand-held electric
BS 2769
- safeguarding
BS 6854
- woodworking
BS 411
Cleaning and surface repair of buildings
BS 6270
Closed circuit escape breathing apparatus
BS 4667
Clothing for protection against intense heat
BS EN 366, 367
Concrete cladding
BS 8297
Construction equipment
- hoists
BS 7212
- suspended safety chairs, cradles
BS 2830
Control of noise (construction and open sites)
BS 5228
Cranes, safe use
BS 5744, 7121
Disabled people, means of escape
BS 5588
Drill Rigs
BS EN 791
Dust
- high efficiency respirators
BS 7355, BS EN 143
- particulate emission
BS 3405
- particulate emission, high accuracy
BS 893
Ear protectors, sound attenuation measurement
BS EN 24689-1
Earphones
- audiometry, calibration, acoustic couplers
BS 4668
- audiometry, calibration ears
BS 4669
Earthing
BS 7430
Earth moving equipment
BS 6912
Electrical equipment
- explosive atmospheres
BS 4683, 5501, 5345, 6941
- fire hazard testing
BS 6458
- guidance to wiring regulations
BS 7671
- impedance measurement
BS 6161
Electrical resistance materials
- bare fine resistance wires
BS 1117
- conductor sizes, low-voltage industrial switchgear and controlgear
BS EN 60947-1
- double electrical insulation
BS 2754
- earth-leakage circuit-breakers
- AC voltage operated
BS 842
- current-operated
BS 4293
- portable RCDs
BS 7071
- electric shock protection, construction of electrical equipment
BS 2754
- enclosures for high-voltage cable terminations, transformers and
reactors
BS 6435
- fans, industrial
BS 848
- industrial electric plugs
BS 4343
- industrial machines
BS 2771
- marking for low-voltage industrial switchgear/controlgear
BS 6272
- metallic
BS 115
- resistivity measurement
BS 5714
- static electricity
BS 5958
- switchgear
BS 5486-1, 5227,
7354
- test for resistance per unit length
BS 3466
Emergency exits
BS 5725
Emergency lighting
BS 5266
Environmental management systems
BS 7750
Ergonomics of the thermal environment
BS ISO 9920
Ergonomic requirements for office work with VDUs
BS EN 29241
Eye protection
- equipment for eye, face and neck protection against non-ionising
radiation during welding operations
BS 1542
- glossary of terms
BS EN 165
- specification for sunglaze filters used in personal eye protectors for
industrial use
BS EN 172
Eye protectors
BS EN 166, 167, 168
Fabrics, curtains and drapes
BS 5867
Falling-object protective structures
BS 6912-7
Falsework, code of practice
BS 5975
Filters
- specification for infra-red filters used in personal eye protection
equipment
BS EN 171
- specification for personal eye protection equipment in welding
BS EN 169
- specification for ultra-violet filters used in personal eye protection
equipment
BS EN 170
Fire blankets
BS 6575
Fire classification
BS EN 2
Fire detection/alarm systems
BS 5839
Fire detection/alarm systems - design, installation and servicing of
integrated systems
BS 7807
Fire door assemblies
BS 8214
Fire extinguishers
- disposable aerosol type
BS 6165
- media
BS 6535
- on premises
BS 5306
- portable
BS EN 3, BS 7863
- portable, recharging
BS 6643
Fire hose reels (water)
BS EN 671-1
Fire point determination, petroleum products
- Cleveland open cup method
BS EN 22592
- Pensky-Martens apparatus method
BS 2000(35)
Fire precautions in design/construction of buildings
BS 5588
Fire protection measures, code of practice for operation
BS 7273
Fire safety signs
BS 5499
Fire terms
BS 4422 Pt 4
Fire tests
BS 476
Fire tests for furniture
BS 5852
Firefighters gloves
pr EN 659
First-aid reel/hoses
BS 3169
Flameproof industrial clothing
BS EN 469, 531
Flammability testing and performance
BS 6249
Flammable liquids
BS 476
Footwear
- footwear with midsole protection
BS EN 347
- general and industrialised lined or unlined boots
BS 6159 Pt 1
- lined industrialised vulcanised rubber boots
BS 5145
- lined rubber safety boots
BS EN 345, 346
- methods of test for safety
BS EN 344
- other than all rubber and plastic moulded compounds
BS EN 345, 346
- polyvinyl chloride boots
BS 6159
- protective clothing for users of hand-held chain saws
pr EN 381
PVC moulded safety footwear
BS EN 345, 346
- requirements/test methods for safety protective and occupational
footwear for professional use
pr EN 344
- specification for safety footwear for professional use
pr EN 347
- women's protective footwear
BS EN 346
Freight containers
BS 3951
Gaiters and footwear for protection against burns and impact risks in
foundries
BS 4676
Gas detector tubes
BS 5343
Gas fired hot water boilers
BS 6798
Gas welding equipment
BS EN 731
Glazing
BS 6262
Gloves: medical gloves for single use
BS EN 455
Gloves: rubber gloves for electrical purposes
BS 697
Goggles, industrial/non-industrial use
BS EN 166, 167, 168
Grinding machines
- hand-held electric
BS 2769
- pneumatic, portable
BS 4390
- spindle noses
BS 1089
Head protection - fire fighters
BS 3864
Headforms for use in testing protective helmets
BS EN 960
Hearing protectors
BS EN 352
- Part 1 Ear Muffs
- Part 2 Ear Plugs
High visibility warning clothing
pr EN 471
Hoisting slings
BS 6166
- alloy steel, chain
BS 3458
- chain, welded
BS 6304
- high tensile, steel chain
BS 2902
- textile
BS 6668
- wire rope
BS 1290
Hoists
- construction, safe use
BS 7212
- electric, passenger/materials
BS 4465
- working platforms
BS 7171
Hose reels with semi-rigid hose
BS EN 671-1
Hose systems with lay-flat hose cloth for fixed fire fighting systems
BS EN 671-2
Hot environments
- estimation of heat stress on the working man
BS EN 27243
Household and similar electrical appliances
BS EN 60335
Industrial gloves
BS EN 374, 388, 407, 420
Industrial safety helmets, firemen's
BS 3864
Industrial trucks
- hand-operated stillage trucks, dimensions
BS 4337
- pallet trucks, dimensions
BS ISO 509
- pedals, construction/layout
BS 7178
Insulating material
BS 7737, BS 7831, BS 5626, BS EN 26874, BS EN 60383-2, BS 7822, BS 2844,
BS 5691
Ionising radiation
- exposure rate calculation
BS 4094
- units of measurement
BS 5775
Jib cranes
- high pedestal and portal
BS 2452
- power-driven, mobile
BS 1757
Ladders
- code of practice
BS 5395
- permanent for chimneys, high structures
BS 4211
- portable aluminium
BS 2037
- portable timber
BS 1129
Lamps, artificial daylight, for colour assessment
BS 950
Life jackets
BS 394, 396
Lifting chains
- alloy, steel
BS 3113
- high tensile steel
BS 1663
- safe working on lifts
BS 7255
Lighting systems: automatic change-over contractors for emergency
lighting
BS 764
Machine guards
- chain saws
BS 6916
- conveyors and elevators
BS 5667
- earth-moving equipment
BS EN ISO 3457
- woodworking machines
BS 6854
Machine tools
- emergency stop equipment, functional aspects
BS EN 418
- noise measurement methods
BS 4813
- safeguarding
BS 5304
Machinery, safety of
- drafting and presentation
BS EN 414
- ergonomic design principles
BS EN 614-1
- hazardous substances emitted by machines
BS EN 626
- indication, marking and actuation
requirements for visual, auditory and tactile signals
BS EN 61310-1
- requirements for marking
BS EN 61310-2
- minimum gaps to avoid crushing parts of body
BS EN 349
- principles and specifications for machinery manufacturers
BS EN 626-1
Machines, vibration
BS 4675
Materials handling
- conveyor belts
BS 5767
- freight containers
BS 3951
Mobile cranes
BS 1757
Mobile road construction machinery
BS EN 500
Mortising machines, single chain
BS 4361
Natural fibre ropes
BS EN 698, 701, 1261
- cords, lines, twines
BS 6125
Nets, safety
BS 3913
- code of practice for use of safety nets, containment nets and sheets on
construction sites
BS 8093
Noise
- airborne, chain saws
BS 6916
- airborne, earth-moving equipment
BS 6812
- airborne, hydraulic transmission systems
BS 5944
- effects on hearing handicap
BS 5330
- industrial noise, method for rating
BS 4142
- industrial premises, measurement
BS 4142
- machine tools, measurement methods
BS 4813
- sound exposure meters
BS EN 61252
Noise induced hearing loss
- effects of noise exposure
BS 5330
- pure tone air conduction threshold audiometry
BS 6655
Occupational safety and health management systems
BS 8800
Office buildings, fire precautions
BS 5588
Office furniture, design/dimensions
BS 5940
Office machines
- electrically energised, safety
BS EN 60950, BS 7002
- keyboards, control keys
BS ISO/IEC 9995 (1-8)
- noise measurement
BS 7135
Oil burning equipment
BS 799
Oil firing
BS 5410
Open bar gratings - specification
BS 4592 - Part I
Overhead travelling cranes
- power-driven
BS 466
- safe use
BS 5744
Packaging
- pictorial marking for handling of goods
BS EN 20780
Particulate air pollutants
- in effluent gases, measurement
BS 3405
- in effluent gases, measurement, high accuracy
BS 893
Passenger hoists
- electric, building sites
BS 4465
- vehicular
BS 6109
- working platforms, mobile, elevating
BS 7171
Patent glazing
BS 5516
Pedestrian guardrails (metal)
BS 7818
Performance of windows
BS 6375
Personal eye protection
- filters for welding and related techniques
BS EN 169
- infrared filters
BS EN 171
- non-optical test methods
pr EN 168
- optical test methods
pr EN 167
- specifications
pr EN 166
- ultraviolet filters
BS EN 170
- vocabulary
pr EN 165
Pipelines, identification marking
BS 1710, 4800
Pneumatic tools
- portable grinding machines
BS 4390
Portable fire extinguishers
BS EN 3, BS 7863
Portable tools
- electric, radio interference limits and measurements
BS EN 55014
- pneumatic grinding machines
BS 4390
Powder fire extinguishers
- disposable, aerosol type
BS 6165
- extinguishing powders for
BS EN 615
- on premises
BS 5306
- portable, recharging
BS 6643
Power take-off
- agricultural tractors, front-mounted
BS 6818
- agricultural tractors, rear-mounted
BS 5861
Powered industrial trucks
- controls, symbols
BS 5829
- high-lift rider trucks, overhead guards
BS 5933
Pressure vessels
BS 5500
Process control - safety of analyser houses
BS EN 61285
Protective barriers
BS 6180
Protective cabs
- controls for external equipment
BS 5731
Protective clothing
- against cold weather
pr EN 342
- against foul weather
pr EN 343
- against heat and fire
BS EN 366
- against heat and flame
BS EN 702
- against heat and flame - test method for limited flame spread
BS EN 532
- against molten metal splash
BS EN 373
- against risk of being caught up in moving parts
BS EN 510
- eye, face and neck protection, welding
BS 1542
- flameproof
BS EN 469, 531
- for firefighters
BS EN 469
- for industrial workers exposed to heat
BS EN 531
- for use where there is risk of entanglement
BS EN 510
- for users of hand-held chain saws
BS EN 381
- for welders
BS EN 470
- for workers exposed to heat
BS EN 531
- gaiters for foundries
BS 4676
- general requirements
BS EN 340
- mechanical properties
BS EN 863
- protection against heat and fire
BS EN 366
- protection against intense heat
BS EN 366, 367
- protection against liquid chemicals
BS EN 369, 466, 467
- welding
BS EN 470-1
Protective equipment
- against falls from a height
BS EN 341
- against falls from a height - guided fall type arresters
BS EN 353
Protective footwear
- antistatic rubber
BS 5145, 7193
- firemen's leather boots
BS 2723
- for foundries
BS 4676
- lined industrialised rubber boots
BS 5145
- polyvinyl chloride boots
BS 6159
- women's
BS EN 346
Protective gloves
- against chemicals and micro-organisms
BS EN 374
- against cold
BS EN 511
- against ionising radiation
BS EN 421
- against mechanical risks
BS EN 388
- against thermal hazards
BS EN 407
- for users of hand-held chain saws
BS EN 381
- general requirements
BS EN 420
- mechanical test methods
BS EN 388
Protective helmets
BS EN 397
Quality control
BS 5750
Radiation measures
- detectors, nuclear reactors
BS 5548
- electroscope, exposure meters
BS 3385
- film badges
BS 3664
- neutron detectors
BS 5552
- personal photographic dosimeters
BS 6090
Radiation protection
- area radiation monitors, X-ray and gamma radiation
BS 5566
Refrigeration systems
BS 4434
Resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture
- for non-domestic seating
BS 7176
Respirators
- full masks for respiratory protective devices
BS 7355
- half and quarter face masks for respiratory protective devices
BS 7356
- high-efficiency dust respirators
BS 7355, BS EN 143
- positive pressure dust hoods and blouses
BS EN 143, 146
- positive pressure dust respirators
BS 7355, BS EN 143, 147
Respiratory protective devices
BS EN 138, 139, 269, 270, 271
Roll-over protective structures
- industrial trucks, stacking with masted tilt forward
BS 5778
- pallet stackers/high lift platform trucks
BS 5777
- reach and straddle fork trucks
BS 4436
Rope pulley blocks
- gin blocks
BS 1692
- synthetic fibre
BS 4344
- wire, heavy duty
BS 4536
Rope slings
- fibre rope slings
BS 6668
- wire rope slings
BS 1290, 6210
Rubber/plastics injection moulding machines
BS 6679
Safety anchorages
- industrial safety harnesses
BS EN 795
Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by upper limbs
BS EN 294
Safety harnesses
- industrial
BS EN 354, 355, 358, 361-365
- industrial, manually operated positioning devices
BS 6858
Safety helmets
BS EN 397
Sampling methods
- airborne radioactive materials
BS 5243
- particulate emissions
BS 3405
Scaffolds, code of practice
BS 5973, 5974
Scalp protectors
BS 4033
Shaft construction and descent
BS 8008
Sound insulation in buildings
BS EN ISO 140
Staging
- lightweight portable timber
BS 1129
- portable aluminium alloy
BS 2037
Stairs, ladders, walkways
BS 5395
Steam boilers
- electric boilers
BS 1894
- safety valves for
BS 6759
- welded steel low pressure boilers
BS 855
Step ladders
- portable aluminium alloy
BS 2037
- portable timber
BS 1129
Storage tanks
- carbon steel welded horizontal cylindrical
BS 2594
- vertical steel welded non-refrigerated butt-welded shells
BS 2654
Suspended access equipment, permanently installed
BS 6037
Suspended safety chairs
BS 2830
Suspended scaffolds, temporarily installed
BS 5974
Tables, office furniture, ergonomic design
BS 3044
Textile floor coverings
BS 5287
Textile machinery, safety requirements
BS EN ISO 11111
Transportable gas containers
- acetylene containers
BS 6071
- periodic inspection, testing and maintenance
BS 5430
- welded steel tanks for road transport of liquefiable gases
BS 7122
Travelling cranes, power-driven jib
BS 357, 5744
Vertical steel welded non-refrigerated storage tanks, manufacture of
BS 2654
Vibration measurement
- chain saws
BS 6916
- rotating shafts
BS ISO 7919-1
Visual display terminals, ergonomics and design
BS 7179
Water absorption and translucency of china or porcelain
BS 5416
Water services, installation, testing and maintenance
BS 6700
Welders, protective clothing
BS EN 470-1
Window cleaning
BS 8213
Windows, performance of
BS 6375
Woodworking machines
BS 6854
Woodworking noise
BS 7140
Wool and wool blends
BS 1771
Working platforms
- mobile, elevating
BS 7171
- permanent, suspended access
BS 6037
Workplace atmospheres
- performance of procedures for measurement of chemical agents
BS EN 482
- size definitions for measurement of airborne particulates
BS EN 481
Workwear and career wear
BS 5426
