Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.

We aim to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health in Great Britain. To help us do this, we carry out research, provide information and advice, promote training and propose regulations and codes of practice. We also work with local authorities to enforce health and safety standards, carrying out inspections and investigations, and taking enforcement action, including prosecuting cases through the courts.

HSE to develop the UK's first joint industry guidance for collaborative robots (cobots).The guidance will help businesse...
16/06/2026

HSE to develop the UK's first joint industry guidance for collaborative robots (cobots).

The guidance will help businesses better understand regulatory requirements and confidently adopt robotics that can safely work alongside people. By combining industry expertise with HSE's regulatory knowledge, the initiative aims to support innovation, improve productivity and encourage growth across UK businesses.

The first phase of guidance is expected to launch this summer, read more: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/06/10/britains-health-and-safety-regulator-to-create-its-first-ever-joint-industry-guidance-for-collaborative-robotics-in-the-workplace/

This was the aftermath after a temporary platform loaded with concrete debris collapsed on top of a worker.Steve Zschoch...
16/06/2026

This was the aftermath after a temporary platform loaded with concrete debris collapsed on top of a worker.

Steve Zschoch had been working for contractors at a construction project in the City of London when the incident happened in 2024.

The work involved cutting openings through five concrete floors to create a service riser shaft.

Carpenters had been tasked with building temporary wooden platforms under each opening to collect the 16kg concrete cores and debris that were generated by the cutting.

Mr Zschoch had been cutting an opening on the third floor, working directly under one of the temporary platforms, when it suddenly gave way and collapsed on top of him, along with chunks of concrete that had not been cleared away.

He described being “folded up like a concertina" and sustained injuries including fractures to his neck, his back and a bleed on his brain.

The 60-year-old has not been able to return to work since.

Our investigation found that there was no design for the temporary platforms and no calculation had been made for the safe level of loading.

Temporary works must be carefully managed and you can read more about this case here: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/06/15/two-firms-fined-after-worker-fractures-neck-during-platform-collapse/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=prosecution-push

Join us at the Installer Show, 23-25 June 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham. Clare Owen from HSE’s Engagement and Policy Divis...
16/06/2026

Join us at the Installer Show, 23-25 June 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham.

Clare Owen from HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division will talk about the latest engineered stone guidance and how kitchen and bathroom installers can protect their health.

Visit the HSE stand at the event to speak with our team, or see our campaign site for advice and information if you can’t make it:

https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/engineered-stone/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=silica-dust&utm_content=es-homepage

On 8 November 2022, the collapse of a steel tower at Esso’s Fawley Oil Refinery in Hampshire led to the release of 2,400...
15/06/2026

On 8 November 2022, the collapse of a steel tower at Esso’s Fawley Oil Refinery in Hampshire led to the release of 2,400kg of highly flammable liquid natural gas.

The major incident lasted for more than 30 hours.

A Health & Safety Executive investigation found Esso had known about corrosion affecting the tower since 2010.

The company has been fined £1 million.

Read about our investigation here: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/06/15/esso-fined-1-million-after-major-gas-leak-at-fawley-refinery/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social+&utm_campaign=prosecution-push

This Men's Health Week, we want to reach men who work as electricians, plumbers, joiners, tilers, heating and ventilatio...
15/06/2026

This Men's Health Week, we want to reach men who work as electricians, plumbers, joiners, tilers, heating and ventilation engineers and any other worker who may disturb asbestos.

These trades have higher mortality rates of mesothelioma, a serious form of cancer usually caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. Asbestos is still present in many buildings constructed before 2000 and disturbing it during repair or maintenance work puts you at risk.

The symptoms to watch for are chest pain, a cough that won't go away, and shortness of breath — but there are others. If you recognise any of these, speak to your GP.

HSE has free resources to help:
• Asbestos & You — download the practical quick guide for tradespeople
• Asbestos: Your Duty — information for building owners and those responsible for maintenance

Find both at: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/asbestos-you/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=asbestos-trades&utm_id=asbestos-trades&utm_content=mens-health-26

Share this with someone who works in the trades

High pressure water can damage asbestos-containing tiles or sheeting. When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed...
12/06/2026

High pressure water can damage asbestos-containing tiles or sheeting.

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. If inhaled, these fibres they can cause serious diseases which cannot be cured.

These diseases will not affect you immediately – they often take a long time to develop. But once you have been diagnosed, it is often too late.

This is why it is important to protect yourself and others now.

Find out more:
https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/asbestos-you/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=asbestos-trades&utm_content=homepage

If you are in contact with engineered stone dust or mist, regular health surveillance is a must. Workers should have b...
11/06/2026

If you are in contact with engineered stone dust or mist, regular health surveillance is a must.

Workers should have be checked before they start work with engineered stone, or within the first 6 weeks.

Every employee must be seen by an occupational health professional, at least annually.

If your workers have already been exposed to silica dust, you may need to arrange a chest x-ray straight away.

Find out more about health surveillance:
https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/engineered-stone/health-surveillance/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=silica-dust

10/06/2026

CCTV footage captures harrowing moment worker falls through roof.

Two construction companies have been fined after a scaffolder broke his arm, leg and suffered head injuries after falling through a roof skylight.

James Cranswick was installing temporary scaffolding edge protection when the incident took place. You can see from the video his fall was braced by a pallet truck before he lands on the warehouse floor.

Our investigation found that no measures were in place to prevent the scaffolders falling from the edge of the unit, or through the fragile elements of the roof.

HSE Inspector Shauna Halstead, said:

“Mr Cranswick is lucky to be alive after this incident. This incident was wholly avoidable and HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action where roof work is not appropriately managed as workers lives needn’t be unnecessarily risked.”

Read more about this case here: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/06/10/cctv-footage-captures-harrowing-moment-worker-falls-through-roof/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=prosecution-push&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=prosecution-push

10/06/2026

No matter what you call engineered stone, be aware that it can contain as much as 90% crystalline silica which is linked to rapid-onset lung disease.

When it’s cut, ground or polished without the right controls, it produces dust that can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

See HSE’s new guidance and make sure you’ve got the four key controls in place.

https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/engineered-stone/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=silica-dust&utm_content=es-homepage

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