Research has shown a significant effect of the legal requirements for occupational safety and health on the development of business systems in Croatia. Research methods used were: descriptive research, comparative method, inductive and deductive methods, survey method and statistical methods and techniques. An online survey was conducted on a representative sample of occupational safety and health professionals working within business systems in Croatia. A total of 38 legal requirements for occupational safety and health in business systems have been identified and analysed. Research has shown that occupational safety and health regulations are being fully implemented in less than one third (28.82 %) of business systems in Croatia, and in the majority (55.88 %) of business systems only partial implementation has been detected. From among the applicable occupational safety and health requirements and their effects on the development of business systems, according to results, the following have the most positive effect: prohibition of alcohol and drug use at the workplace, safe handling of hazardous substances, chemicals and biological agents, and inspection, maintenance and testing of work equipment. The following occupational safety and health requirements have the weakest impact on the functioning and development of business systems: misdemeanour legislation and sanctions for failure to implement occupational safety and health regulations, entering into contracts with and performance of occupational safety and health works by registered external contractors, collaboration with government bodies and institutes in charge of occupational safety and health and inspection of occupational safety and health compliance and implementation. The results of research show that occupational safety and health regulations and their practical implementation have the most positive effects on operations and business development, thus confirming the obligation of continuous analysis and improvement of the provisions of occupational safety and health regulations, so as to increase their positive impact on the development of business systems. The positive impact of the occupational safety and health regulations on the development of business systems mostly depends on the existence of a business system development strategy. Accordingly, the occupational safety and health management in collaboration with the business system management have to strive to adopt and continuously harmonise the existing business system development strategy and, within its framework, also development strategy for occupational safety and health in the business system. Such strategies constitute the basis for operational planning and efficient implementation of occupational safety and health in the business system, which includes a comprehensive implementation of occupational safety and health regulations in the business system as a means of developing occupational safety and health and the overall business system.