Introduction
Unlike approved codes of practice, guidance notes are purely advisory and therefore have no legal significance.
Issued by the health and safety executive, guidance notes are a series of further documents used to share practical experience.
Seen as invaluable documents, guidance notes indicate the ways that the health and safety executive expect employers to operate.
A guidance note will often accompany an approved code of practice. The health and safety executive publish guidance notes in eight different sets.
Published sets
- CS – Chemical series
- EH – Environmental hygiene series
- GS – General series
- MS – Medical series
- PM – Plant and machinery
- HS (G) – Health and safety (guidance) series
- HS (R) – Health and safety (regulations) series
- BPM – Best practical means
Many of the published guidance note are free. You can obtain copies from the HSE website, or from your local HSE office.