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Ensure you are working safely at height
Falls when working at height remain the most common kind of workplace fatality
HSE’s annual fatality statistics reported that there were 50 fatal injuries caused by falling from height in 2023/24.
Make sure you take the necessary precautions and visit our guidance on working at height to understand how you can protect workers.
The HSE website has a range of useful information and sources of advice for employers. They include:
- key messages to follow before working from height
- guidance on the safe use of ladders and stepladders
- useful resources for working at height including our relevant publications which are free to download
Building Control Approval: updated FAQs
We’ve produced a useful frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide on how the Building Control Authority works, and what BSR expects from industry
This includes information on submitting high-quality applications.
The FAQ guide is regularly updated using feedback and insights from industry and our operational teams. Recent updates include commonly found issues with rejected applications.
You can also watch a vlog from Neil-Hope Collins, Policy Lead for HRB Building Control Authority at HSE explaining some of the important changes in building control for higher-risk buildings.
Read and download the FAQ guide Watch the vlog
Government news – Statutory guidance for building regulation in England has been recently updated and published
The guidance covers fire safety matters within and around buildings. – Updates to Approved Document B include provisions for sprinklers in all new care homes, irrespective of height.
Building control practice guidance has been published by the government – The guidance is for local authorities, registered building control approvers and persons carrying out building work. It covers cancellation notices, transfers and reversions. Read the Building control practice guidance
Building a culture of prevention in construction
Around half of work-related ill health is down to stress, depression or anxiety, with each person suffering taking an average of 19.6 days off work per year
To mark World Mental Health Day earlier this month, Mates in Mind managing director, Sam Downie, shared a blog on how to build a culture of prevention.
The law requires all employers to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace by doing a risk assessment and acting on it. Failing to manage stress at work can cost employers in reduced productivity, sickness absence or losing team members.
HSE’s Working Minds campaign can help. Find out how to support your workers to thrive:
- sign up to the monthly ebulletin
- register for our free online learning for step-by-step guidance
- download a risk assessment template
- see our Talking Toolkits for help with structuring your conversations
The Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) updates
CONIAC was established to advise HSE on the protection of people from hazards to health and safety within the building, civil engineering and engineering construction industries
With a membership made up from HSE, employers, employees and key industry stakeholders (including SMEs), CONIAC delivers practical outcomes and industry resources in support of its purpose and work plan through its working groups.
The CONIAC website has useful resources including:
- Repair, Maintenance and Home Improvement – Advice for identifying and managing risk when retrofitting or undertaking home improvements
- MEWPs: Management and Good Practice
Shining a light on asbestos-related diseases – November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
HSE is shining a light on occupational lung diseases and how we can work together to protect workers’ health.
It is estimated that 12,000 people die from work-related lung diseases every year. These deaths, linked to exposure to hazardous substances at work, include lung cancer and approximately 5,000 asbestos-related disease deaths.
HSE is currently running 2 campaigns to highlight the risks of asbestos and how to stay safe. For free resources and information, visit our campaign pages:
- Asbestos – Your Duty provides guidance and templates to support dutyholders with the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings
- Asbestos and You highlights the risk of asbestos to tradespeople and includes a free quick guide for tradespeople to download
Safe methods of isolation of platform controls on mobile elevating work platforms
HSE has worked with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) to develop the following guidance on the safe methods of isolation of platform controls for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
Background – HSE is investigating an incident involving a MEWP and found that when at height, the method of isolating the controls on the MEWP can introduce a hazard to the occupants of the platform. The investigation is ongoing.
The emergency stop control on the MEWP platform has been used in the powered access industry for a number of years to achieve isolation of controls and/or power source when the MEWP has reached its place of work. This practice was first introduced on older machines, not designed to current standards, to reduce the risk of entrapment and inadvertent operation of controls. As the standards have evolved and designs have changed, this practice may no longer be appropriate to reduce the risk as other methods are now used in control designs.
Safe isolation of the platform controls
The operator of a MEWP may be required to isolate the controls and/or power source using platform controls. Where the machine is equipped with an ‘engine on/off’ control at the platform control console, this should be used to switch the engine off during normal operation rather than the emergency stop control, unless the manufacturer indicates that it would be unsafe to do so. Where machines are not equipped with a dedicated ‘on/off’ control at the platform control console, the MEWP operator should follow the manufacturers’ operating instructions as to how this should be achieved. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the correct MEWP has been selected for the task, and that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out and documented. HSE endorses this jointly developed guidance and has encouraged IPAF to communicate it to MEWP users.
HSE’s website has more information and advice on working safely with MEWPs.
Inaccurate RBI registrations could face BSR action
BSR is addressing concerns about Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs) registering for work categories they do not hold certificates of competence for.
This may constitute professional misconduct and can result in serious consequences for RBIs and their employers. RBIs are responsible for ensuring their registration aligns with their competency, as determined by independent assessment schemes. Employers must also satisfy themselves that the registration and competency of RBIs they employ are accurate. Any RBIs registered for categories beyond their assessed competency should submit a Change of Circumstances form to avoid potential penalties. Find out more:
Building Advisory Committee: help shape future building
We are looking for leaders in Net Zero projects, social housing and Chartered Town Planning to join the Building Advisory Committee (BAC).
The BAC provides advice and information on new and emerging issues across the built environment and provides leadership across industry to drive change. Members of BAC are drawn from many different parts of industry with varied skills, knowledge and expertise. This currently includes fire safety, structural safety, construction, housing, building services, engineering and meeting the needs of disabled people. If you are passionate about sustainable building, apply or find out more.