Under HASAWA Section 7, what duty does an employee owe to themselves and others while at work?

Section 7 places personal criminal duties on every employee: take reasonable care of own and others' health and safety, and cooperate with the employer. Breach can lead to individual prosecution — supervisors and apprentices alike are liable.

To carry out a written risk assessment for every task before starting it, and to file a copy of it with their employer at the end of each day worked

To provide their own personal protective equipment at their own cost, and to replace it whenever it becomes worn or damaged while in use on site

To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions, and cooperate with the employer

To report every accident directly to the HSE under RIDDOR within ten days of it happening, whatever the severity of the injury to the person concerned

Under HASAWA Section 37, when can a director or senior manager be personally prosecuted alongside the company?

Section 37 HASAWA exposes directors and senior managers personally where the company's offence was committed with their consent, connivance, or due to their neglect. This is the basis for many personal H&S prosecutions and disqualifications.

Only where the director was physically present when the offence was committed — personal liability follows presence on the site, not any failure back at the office

Where the director personally carried out the dangerous work — liability under Section 37 follows the person doing the task, never the officer who signed the paperwork

Never; only the company itself can be prosecuted — HASAWA duties attach to the undertaking, and never to an individual officer of it personally

Where an offence by the company is committed with their consent, connivance or attributable to their neglect — they may be charged personally as well

Under the Sentencing Council Definitive Guideline 2016 (Health and Safety Offences), what factors determine the level of fine?

The 2016 Definitive Guideline produces fines linked to culpability, harm category and turnover band. Large organisations can face fines into the millions. The structured approach has driven a step-change in penalty levels since 2016.

Culpability (very high to low), seriousness of harm risked, likelihood of harm, plus the offender's turnover and aggravating/mitigating factors

Solely the number of previous convictions (health and safety only) recorded against the company/director over the preceding five years, counted from the date of sentence

Solely the number of employees (headcount/FTE) on the company payroll, counted on the date the offence was committed

Solely whether the breach was reported voluntarily (self-reported) to the HSE, before an inspector served an improvement/prohibition notice

Free mock exam

Supervisor Responsibilities — Level 3 Health & Safety Practice

Free topic-focused mock exam: all 27 questions on Supervisor Responsibilities, drawn from the wider Level 3 Health & Safety bank. 35-minute timer, 70% to pass, worked explanation on every question. Use this when you've taken the full mock once and want to drill the topics you got wrong.

Questions: 27
Time limit: 35 min
Pass mark: 70% · 19/27
Question bank: 27

Free, no sign-up. Retake as many times as you like — the questions are reshuffled, with the answer order changed.

Sample questions

01Under HASAWA Section 7, what duty does an employee owe to themselves and others while at work?
- ATo report every accident directly to the HSE under RIDDOR within ten days of it happening, whatever the severity of the injury to the person concerned
- BTo carry out a written risk assessment for every task before starting it, and to file a copy of it with their employer at the end of each day worked
- CTo provide their own personal protective equipment at their own cost, and to replace it whenever it becomes worn or damaged while in use on site
- DTo take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions, and cooperate with the employer
Why: Section 7 places personal criminal duties on every employee: take reasonable care of own and others' health and safety, and cooperate with the employer. Breach can lead to individual prosecution — supervisors and apprentices alike are liable.
02Under HASAWA Section 37, when can a director or senior manager be personally prosecuted alongside the company?
- AOnly where the director was physically present when the offence was committed — personal liability follows presence on the site, not any failure back at the office
- BWhere the director personally carried out the dangerous work — liability under Section 37 follows the person doing the task, never the officer who signed the paperwork
- CWhere an offence by the company is committed with their consent, connivance or attributable to their neglect — they may be charged personally as well
- DNever; only the company itself can be prosecuted — HASAWA duties attach to the undertaking, and never to an individual officer of it personally
Why: Section 37 HASAWA exposes directors and senior managers personally where the company's offence was committed with their consent, connivance, or due to their neglect. This is the basis for many personal H&S prosecutions and disqualifications.
03Under the Sentencing Council Definitive Guideline 2016 (Health and Safety Offences), what factors determine the level of fine?
- ASolely the number of previous convictions (health and safety only) recorded against the company/director over the preceding five years, counted from the date of sentence
- BCulpability (very high to low), seriousness of harm risked, likelihood of harm, plus the offender's turnover and aggravating/mitigating factors
- CSolely the number of employees (headcount/FTE) on the company payroll, counted on the date the offence was committed
- DSolely whether the breach was reported voluntarily (self-reported) to the HSE, before an inspector served an improvement/prohibition notice
Why: The 2016 Definitive Guideline produces fines linked to culpability, harm category and turnover band. Large organisations can face fines into the millions. The structured approach has driven a step-change in penalty levels since 2016.

Common questions

Is the Supervisor Responsibilities mock exam free?

Yes — 100% free, no sign-up needed. Questions are pulled at random from a substantial bank, with a worked explanation on every question after you submit.

Can I retake the mock exam?

Yes. Every attempt picks a different random selection and reshuffles the options, so each retake gives you genuinely new questions. No limit on retakes.

Does this count towards the real qualification?

No — this is independent practice material. To gain the actual qualification you need to sit the official assessment through an approved provider.