WOBO recognises the developments taking place within the UK and thanks HSE for their support in global news and developments.
Tackle work-related stress with HSE’s Working Minds campaign
HSE’s annual statistics were recently published and highlight that stress, depression or anxiety account for about half of work-related ill health cases.
That’s an estimated 776,000 cases, with each case meaning an average of 21.1 days being taken off work.
Stepping into 2025, make good mental health at work a priority by tackling stress.
HSE’s Working Minds campaign is here to support that goal. Use our free tools and resources to learn about workplace stress, how to assess the risk and what steps to take:
- download the new campaign calendar for 2025
- complete the free Working Minds online learning
- download a stress risk assessment template and see examples
Working safely in confined spaces
Every year a number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces in Great Britain.
A confined space is a place:
- which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely)
- where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby
HSE’s website has guidance about the hazards of working in confined spaces and how to manage the risks.
You can download our Approved Code of Practice: Safe work in confined spaces. This publication:
- helps you put precautions in place for work to be carried out safely
- provides examples of confined spaces
New blog: one family’s tragic asbestos history
Our latest blog highlights the impact of asbestos exposure on a member of HSE’s digital team.
Dan Williamson shares the impact of asbestos exposure on his family, where 3 members died from asbestos-related cancer.
This personal account highlights the ongoing presence of asbestos in many buildings and the risks posed when it is disturbed or damaged.
Read the full story on our campaign website: Blog: a family’s tragic history with asbestos
Home improvement and asbestos
Many people may be considering some home improvements early in the new year, involving the use of tradespeople.
Before any work starts, homeowners should make sure the tradespeople have evaluated the risk of asbestos being present and/or disturbed, as well as what they will do should they suspect or discover hidden asbestos.
Our Asbestos and You campaign provides essential information that traders in building, maintenance and allied trades need to help plan work safely.
- visit the Asbestos and You campaign website to download the quick guide for trades
- share the free TrustMark app for homeowners
Asbestos is not a problem of the past
Last month marked 25 years since asbestos was banned in the UK.
Asbestos could still be present in any building that was built or refurbished before 2000 and can be hidden within different materials, for example:
- lagging on plant and pipework
- insulation products such as fireproof panels
- asbestos cement roofing material
- sprayed coatings on structural steel work to insulate against fire and noise
To keep people safe from the risks of disturbing or damaging asbestos containing materials, there is a legal duty to manage asbestos in industrial, commercial and public buildings.
The duty to manage asbestos guidance includes specific information on the purpose of an asbestos survey. This includes identifying when each type of survey (management, refurbishment and demolition) is required, and guidance on selecting a competent surveyor and understanding your survey report.
New and revised publications from WISH on the safe use of binlifts
WISH has issued 2 documents about the safety of automatic binlifts on refuse collection vehicles (RCVs).
REF 13 ‘FAQs – Safety use of automatic binlifts on RCVs‘, contains a list of common queries that have been received by WISH and HSE on improvements to the safeguarding of binlifts.
These are primarily for users of rear loading RCVs used for domestic waste collection where the automatic mode is frequently used. This document is chiefly concerned with risks from existing machines.
An updated version of INFO 26 ‘Safety in the operation of automatic bin lifting equipment on RCVs’ deals with the emerging UK annex to BSEN1501-5 :2021 Refuse collection vehicles – General requirements and safety requirements – Part 5: Lifting devices for refuse collection vehicles.
Visit the WISH website to download copies of the documents: