LRD guides and handbook October 2021

Health and Safety Law 2021

Chapter 12

Key changes and developments

[ch 12: page 245]

• The government has committed to introduce a new duty on employers to protect all their staff from sexual harassment at work, and to protect workers harassed by clients or customers as well as colleagues; 

• New sentencing guidelines reflect legislation that increased the maximum sentence for common assault when the victim is an emergency worker from six months to 12 months in prison. The government has pledged to increase the maximum sentence from 12 months to two years through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill;

• The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on 24 August 2021. It introduces a specific, new criminal offence to assault, threaten or abuse, or obstruct or hinder retail and hospitality workers;

• The Domestic Abuse Act received Royal Assent in April 2021 and is expected to come into force during 2021/22. The UNISON public services union successfully secured a joint amendment in the Bill to ensure that Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) extend to the workplace.