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8,000 people a day die in accidents worldwide

ACCIDENTS ARE the sixth leading cause of death worldwide, claiming over 3 million lives a year, and people in developing countries are far more likely to be killed in an accident than those in richer nations. That’s the shocking truth exposed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA)’s new report Accidental deaths and life-changing injuries: A global tragedy, in partnership with L’Oréal and Xylem.Read more

 

 

Ultimate protection against cold and wet conditions

AFTER WEEKS of relentless rain, followed by an icy cold snap, and now yet another spell of wet weather, outdoor work has never been tougher. Staying warm and dry isn’t just about comfort – it’s essential for safety and productivity. Read more

 

 

 

Workers delaying help despite mental health struggles

UK ORGANISATIONS are caught in a mental health crisis with 81% of workers experiencing mental health symptoms – including stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and loneliness – in the past 12 months. Read more

 

 

 

 

IOSH warns against losing focus on building safety

IOSH IS urging the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to maintain its firm commitment to high standards and sustain the momentum behind the industry’s necessary cultural transformation. Read more

 

 

 

 

Enforcement action taken against director and company

A CONSTRUCTION company director and his firm have been fined after failing to comply with multiple enforcement notices and for failing to suitably plan, manage and monitor construction work. Read more

 

 

BOHS guidance targets diesel exhaust cancer risks at work

NEW BOHS guidance highlights the need to control cancer risks arising from Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions at work.Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Awaab’s Law: early learnings

THREE MONTHS after Awaab’s Law came into force, early experience shows that while the new requirements can feel daunting, social landlords can meet them by breaking compliance into clear, practical steps, writes Hudson Lamber. Read more

 

 

Give safety a hand

WHEN GLOVES are uncomfortable or don’t fit properly, workers are more likely to remove them—and once removed, protection is lost. Monica Alonso explores how we can ensure this essential safety measure is consistently worn. Read more

 

 

 

 

Home working guidance and resources Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for  people working at home as for any other worker.

Our home working guidance provides straightforward actions to manage home workers’ health and safety.

This includes the risks of stress and poor mental health as well as working with display screen equipment (DSE).

Our website also offers:

• advice for home workers
• a video and practical tips on good posture when working with DSE

Contractor jailed after teenage worker fell to their death during demolition works The 19-year-old worker died after falling through a garage roof, where no measures were in place to prevent or mitigate a fall.

The teenager was on the garage roof, removing tiles and other materials, when he fell through an opening and suffered severe head injuries that ultimately proved fatal.

The contractor has been jailed for 12 months after HSE’s investigation found:

• he had put no measures in place to prevent a fall from height, despite the clear risk
• there was no scaffolding, decking, or other protective systems to prevent a person falling through or from the structure
• there had also been no assessment to determine whether asbestos was present

Read more about the incident in our press release: contractor jailed after teenage worker fell to their death during demolition works.

For more health and safety headlines visit our website for news including:

• man jailed after dangerous and illegal gas work put pensioner at risk
• building materials manufacturer fined over £600,000 after worker suffers life-changing injuries

Investigating accidents and incidents HSE has a workbook to help employers, unions, safety representatives and safety professionals find out what went wrong after an accident or incident and identify how the risk can be easily avoided.

The workbook offers a step-by-step guide, to help organisations carry out their own health and safety investigations.

You can download a free copy from our website: Investigating accidents and incidents (HSG245).

The most recent key figures for 2024 to 2025 show:

• 124 workers were killed in work-related accidents
• 680,000 working people sustained an injury at work
• 59,219 injuries to workers were reported under RIDDOR