The Government has issued draft regulations to extend to ‘workers’ protection for taking steps in response to danger. This is to implement part of a High Court decision from last November (which also relates to PPE).

In November 2020 the High Court held that EU directives require legal protection to extend to ‘workers’, not just employees, as regards not being disadvantaged for taking steps in response to danger, and in respect of PPE. The decision is R (Independent Workers Union of Great Britain) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (bailii.org). There is a blog by Diana Kloss on the case.

As regards taking steps in response to danger, the Government has now (March 2021) issued draft regulations (gov.uk) which would extend protection to ‘workers’ with effect from 31st May 2021. (Update: the regulations have since come into force as SI 2021/618.)

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