The Health and Safety at Work Act and Retail Managements

A decade ago managemertts in Great Britain were confronted by new workplace health and safety law. They had in many cases experienced the need to comply with statutory requirements before but the 1974 Act brought unique reportsibiliries which were viewed wit11 trepidation. This article focuses upon the influence which the Act has exerted on retail stores' management. It examines the health and safety systems which have evolved in the stores and considers the degree to which they have met the intention of the Act. In addition, the arricle reveals why theories of employee participation can be difficult to translate into practice.