Petitions/Update the Health and Safety at Work Act to be gender neutral
StatusClosed
Opened8 Jan 2025
Closes8 Jul 2025
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

I believe this law uses outdated gendered language like “his employees”, and that it should be updated to be more inclusive as it applies to everyone regardless of their gender. I believe updating this language would reflect the UK’s commitment to fairness, equality, and respect for all workers.

By replacing words like “his” with “their,” I think the Government can encourage a sense of respect and belonging for all. As the Employment Rights Bill will aim to strengthen measures on sexual harassment prevention, many are shocked to see how exclusionary this language remains in the Health and Safety at Work Act. I believe updating the Act would be a meaningful step towards greater inclusivity.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Pippa Heylings
1Pippa Heylings MP
South Cambridgeshire
4
Daniel Zeichner
2Daniel Zeichner MP
Cambridge
3
Josh Dean
3Josh Dean MP
Hertford and Stortford
3
Nick Timothy
4Nick Timothy MP
West Suffolk
3
Dame Diana Johnson
5Dame Diana Johnson MP
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
2
Alison Hume
6Alison Hume MP
Scarborough and Whitby
2
Michelle Scrogham
7Michelle Scrogham MP
Barrow and Furness
1
Liam Conlon
8Liam Conlon MP
Beckenham and Penge
1
Mohammad Yasin
9Mohammad Yasin MP
Bedford
1
Graham Stuart
10Graham Stuart MP
Beverley and Holderness
1
Update the Health and Safety at Work Act to be gender neutral — Petitions