Every organization today operates in a complex web of laws, regulations, and standards. Whether you are expanding into new markets or consolidating compliance across multiple sites, the foundation of any strong compliance program is an environmental, health and safety (EHS) regulatory or legal register. 

A well-structured register acts as a single source of truth: a live record of obligations mapped to responsible functions and updated as regulations evolve. Without it, compliance quickly becomes fragmented, reactive, and risky. 

In this guide, we explain what an EHS regulatory register is, why it matters, and how to build one step-by-step — with insights on regional nuances to watch out for. 

What Is a Regulatory / Legal Register? 

In one sentence:

A regulatory register is a consolidated record of all the legal and regulatory obligations that apply to an organization, structured so that they can be assigned, monitored, and kept up to date. 

Registers typically include: 

• Relevant legislation, standards, licenses, and permits 
• Clause-level obligations 
• Assigned business owners 
• Linked controls or policies 
• Update history (what changed, when, and why) 

Why a Regulatory Register Matters 

Clarity: Everyone knows which laws apply and who is responsible. 
Audit readiness: Regulators and auditors expect documented compliance. 
Risk management: Helps identify gaps before they turn into breaches. 
Efficiency: Reduces duplication across sites or departments. 
Scalability: Critical for organisations with operations in multiple locations. 

Step-by-Step: How to Build a Regulatory Register

1. Identify Jurisdictions & Scope

Determine which jurisdictions, sectors/ industries, and operations (business activities) fall within your register. Don’t overlook local or site-specific requirements.

2. Collect Applicable Regulations

Gather all relevant laws, standards, licenses, and permits. These can come from: 

• Official government or regulator sources 

• Industry associations 

• Compliance and regulatory technology platforms such as ERM Libryo 

3. Break Down into Obligations

Translate dense legal texts into clear, actionable obligations. For example: 

Law: Carbon Tax Act, No.15 
Obligation: Create and maintain an offset registry.

4. Assign Responsibility

Map obligations to functions or individuals. Accountability should be clear and traceable.

5. Link to Controls & Policies

For each obligation, note the policy, process, or control that addresses it.

6. Monitor for Updates

Laws and regulations change frequently. Build a process to track and incorporate changes into the register. Some regulatory technology platforms such as ERM Libryo will do this automatically for you.

7. Review & Communicate

• Conduct periodic reviews 
• Notify business units of changes 
• Train staff on new requirements 

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Treating the register as a one-time project rather than a living document 

• Failing to assign owners for obligations 

• Relying on generic templates instead of tailoring to your operations 

• Ignoring site-level or local obligations 

• Attempting to manage ongoing updates manually 

Jurisdictional Nuances to Watch For 

Although the process is similar worldwide, jurisdictional differences can significantly affect your register. Some examples include: 

United States 
Federal rules often overlap with state laws. For example, before the occupational health and safety programs at state level are established under state law, they must first demonstrate how they will meet or exceed the effectiveness of federal OSHA and be submitted to the US Department of Labor (OSHA) for approval. A comprehensive register must account for both layers and monitor for frequent state-level changes.

Australia 
State and territory legislation often adds complexity beyond federal law. 

Example: Minimum Contents of a Legal Register 

How ERM Libryo Helps 

Building and maintaining a regulatory register is complex, especially for organisations with multiple operational sites or cross-jurisdictional exposure. 

Libryo streamlines this process for Environmental,  Health and Safety (EHS) compliance through three core capabilities: 

1. Applicability Module 
   Libryo’s Applicability module determines which specific EHS legal requirements apply to each operational site. Instead of wading through irrelevant obligations, compliance teams only see the laws that truly matter for their operations. 

1. Customized, Digitized Legal Registers 
   Libryo creates bespoke registers for each organization, reflecting its jurisdictions, activities, and sector. These registers are searchable, easy to navigate, and designed to map obligations directly to business functions. 

1. Automated, Real-Time Updates 
   Laws change constantly — sometimes weekly. Libryo continuously monitors regulatory developments and automatically updates your registers. Teams receive notifications when changes occur, eliminating the burden of manual legal research. 

Together, these features mean your organization can: 

• Avoid missed obligations 

• Save countless hours of research 

• Improve audit readiness 

• Operate confidently in multiple jurisdictions 

With Libryo, your EHS register is always accurate, tailored to your operations, and updated the moment laws change — taking away the hard work of legal research and letting compliance teams focus on strategy and execution. 

FAQs 

Q: How often should I update my regulatory register? 
A: At minimum quarterly, but to avoid any risk, it should really be whenever laws change, new operations open, or regulators issue fresh guidance. 

Q: Can I manage a legal register in spreadsheets? 
A: Spreadsheets may work for small operations, but they quickly become unmanageable as the scope of regulations or jurisdictions grows and laws change. It might seem like a good short-term fix, but it won’t be a long-term solution. A regulatory intelligence platform like ERM Libryo will provide efficiency, accuracy and peace of mind. 

Q: What’s the difference between a regulatory register and a risk register? 
A: A regulatory register documents obligations, while a risk register tracks potential risks. Together, they provide a complete view of compliance exposure. 

Conclusion 

A regulatory register is the backbone of a defensible, efficient compliance program. The real challenge is not building one but keeping it relevant across multiple jurisdictions and constantly changing regulations. 

ERM Libryo removes this complexity by delivering site-specific, digitized registers that are automatically updated. For organizations operating across borders or scaling compliance, this approach saves time, reduces risk, and ensures obligations are always clear. 

To learn more about ERM Libryo, get in touch with our team today.