The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) are working together, along with government and industry, to support the safe and responsible adoption of robotics in the workplace.
The project, launched today, 10 June 2026, at London Tech Week, has been co-designed with industry to give companies clarity on regulatory requirements, and support businesses to increase the use of robotics.
HSE will partner with Automate UK and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to create practical guidance on how collaborative robots (cobots) can safely work alongside humans – combining industry good practice with HSE regulatory expertise .
The first stage, launching this summer will deliver regulatory clarity for cobots. It will give industry confidence in how they can ensure robots can work safely alongside humans.
Andrew Curran CBE, Director of Science and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “We recognise how guidance and advice can give employers the confidence to innovate safely and provide a platform for new technology to improve productivity and enable growth.
“We understand that despite there being no barrier to adoption in health and safety law there is a fear of non-compliance, which is limiting adoption. Therefore, we are committed to working with the Regulatory Innovation Office and industry partners to deliver the first joint HSE and industry guidance on the use of cobots to address this barrier and improve business confidence.”
More information
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
- HSE’s Science and Research Centre is based in Buxton, Derbyshire. It is a world-leading centre for applied science, engineering and research in health and safety.