WOBO recognises the activities of the UK Health and Safety Executive and their potential use within the global setting

1) Year-end Gateway 2 update: record decisions made Our latest building control Gateway 2 update demonstrated a continuing positive momentum against a backdrop of increasing applications by industry.

Highlights included:

• Gateway 2 determinations continue to rise, with 347 decisions across all types in 12 weeks to 22 December
• a record 727 determinations made since 29 September 2025
• the highest number of decisions made since BSR commenced operations in the last quarter of 2025
• number of all live applications reducing from 1,219 to 1,158 to 22 December

Charlie Pugsley, BSR Chief Executive Officer, said: “Across BSR, and we believe within industry too, there is a confidence we can continue to make more decisions at an increasing pace through our new processes and by engaging appropriately with applicants.”

We also published guidance on staged applications and the criteria for validating, approving or rejecting applications.

These updates are part of the improvements we are making to ensure applications can be processed more efficiently. They also support industry in submitting high-quality building control applications.

• read the latest Gateway 2 update
• view guidance on staged applications
• read criteria for validating, approving or rejecting applications

2)Potential risks from transfer slabs in buildings In December we published information about a potential structural safety issue affecting reinforced concrete buildings constructed with ‘transfer slabs’.

We are working with industry experts and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to better understand the extent of the risk, and how the risk can be identified and managed proportionately in existing buildings.

We issued this information to enable building owners to take proportionate steps to manage the safety of their buildings.

Read the full update.

3) Your Home, Your Safety residents’ campaign Over the coming months, we will be launching our latest ‘Your Home, Your Safety’ campaign promoting the work we do across England.

The multi-platform campaign aims to explain their rights and responsibilities under the Building Safety Act to residents. It will also show how the regulator is working with industry and stakeholders to keep residents and their homes safe.The campaign will be targeted in and around cities with a high density of HRBs. You may see or hear our adverts on or at:

• a bus stop near you
• while listening to your favourite podcast
• on social media and YouTube
• find out more about Your Home, Your Safety campaign
• watch one of our resident campaign videos

4) Protecting workers during low temperatures and cold weather Find advice from HSE on keeping people as comfortable as possible when working in the cold.

Our website offers information and guidance including:

• advice on how to protect workers in low temperatures
• clarity on what the law says about temperature in the workplace
• how you can assess the risks and put controls in place to protect workers
• In addition, our workplace temperature checklist will help you carry out a basic risk assessment.

5) Preventing slips, trips and falls this winter

Colder weather and darker evenings can increase the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.Slips and trips cause over a third of all major injuries and can also lead to other types of accidents, such as falls from height or into machinery.Our guidance helps you to understand what causes slips and trips and how to prevent them.

6) Start 2026 right – make sure your asbestos management plan is up to date As we begin the new year, it’s the perfect time to ensure your asbestos management fundamentals are in good shape.If you manage non-domestic buildings or multi-occupancy domestic premises, you have a legal duty to manage asbestos which requires that you:

• assess if there are asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) present, the amount, where they are and their condition
• presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not
• make, and keep up to date, a record or register of the location and condition of the ACMs or presumed ACMs
• assess the risk of anyone being exposed to airborne fibres from the ACMs
• write an asbestos management plan to manage the risk, put the plan into action, monitor it and review it every 12 months or sooner if necessary
• monitor the condition of any ACMs or suspected ACMs
• provide information on the location and condition of the ACMs to anyone who may work on or disturb them, including the emergency services

January is a good time to review your asbestos risk register and asbestos management plan. These aren’t just paperwork – they’re vital tools that protect everyone who works in or visits your building. For free resources to help you manage asbestos effectively, visit our Asbestos – Your Duty campaign webpages.

7) Understanding the impact of stress at work HSE’s Working Minds campaign has launched a new webpage to help employers recognise how work-related stress develops and why prevention matters.

It reinforces the importance of good work design and explains the impact stress can have on:

• health
• absence
• productivity

To understand the risks of stress at work and take the first steps towards preventing it in your workplace visit the new campaign webpage: Understanding the impact of stress at work You can get a first look at all campaign resources, news and updates by subscribing to the monthly Working Minds ebulletin.

8) HSE inspecting chiropractors to assess radiation compliance HSE is inspecting compliance under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17).

The inspection campaign will run until the end of March and is targeting chiropractors who use radiation generators. All employers with staff operating radiation generators must register with HSE through the online RADAN system.

To help dutyholders understand the requirements of an inspection, HSE has created a video outlining the expectations of the visit and the areas inspectors will be assessing compliance on.

• watch the video on our YouTube channel: What to expect from an ionising radiation inspection
• find out more about the inspections in our news release: HSE inspecting chiropractors to assess radiation compliance
• the Approved Code of Practice and guidance for working with ionising radiation is freely available on HSE’s website

9) Waste and recycling guidance refreshed and updated HSE has refreshed its guidance on the waste and recycling industry to make it easier to protect people and places in this sector.

Working in close consultation with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH), we have:

• removed outdated or duplicated information
• brought guidance up to date, so it reflects changes in the industry
• reduced the size of the site substantially, so it will be easier for you to find the advice you need

The guidance has been reorganised and grouped together to make it easier for you to protect workers and others by:

• preventing ill health from bioaerosols, infections, musculoskeletal disorders, asbestos and noise
• minimising risks from slips and trips and those caused by machinery and transport
• collecting waste and recyclables safely in commercial and civic amenity sites, recycling centres and skip hire
• sorting and processing waste in materials recovery facilities, including scrap metal, electrical equipment and composting
• training employees and providing them with the right information, including on first aid
• managing and monitoring waste and recycling services

There is also information about the WISH forum’s role in the industry and details of the guidance it produces. To find out how it can help you protect your workers and comply with the law, visit our updated waste management and recycling website.