Latest Health & Safety News & Prosecutions – Weekly Digest (16 October 2025)
At Consensus HR, we stay up to date working with our H&S provider with the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement actions, regulatory reviews, and industry developments.
This week’s HSE Weekly Digest highlights the continuing focus on falls from height, safe use of work equipment, and the review of key safety regulations – all critical topics for employers across the UK.
🧗 Managing the Risk of Working at Height
Falls from height remain the most common cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain.
HSE’s latest figures reveal that 35 workers were killed in falls from height between 2024 and 2025 – a stark reminder that robust safety controls are vital.
Businesses must ensure sensible and proportionate measures are in place when employees are required to work at height. HSE offers a step-by-step guide to working at height, helping employers assess and control these risks effectively.
👉 For further guidance, visit HSE’s Working at Height resource.
🏗️ Scaffolding Safety
Scaffolding must be stable, secure, and properly maintained at all times.
The HSE’s scaffolds guidance explains when a design is required and sets out the competence and training standards needed for anyone erecting, altering, inspecting, or supervising scaffolding structures.
Failure to ensure scaffolding safety continues to be one of the most common causes of enforcement action by the HSE.
🪜 Ladders – Safe, Not Default
Ladders and stepladders can be a sensible choice for low-risk, short-duration tasks, but they should not be the automatic first option.
To ensure safe use, HSE provides comprehensive guidance on ladders and stepladders at work, including when they can be used and how to maintain safety.
💥 Company Fined £800,000 After Worker Killed by Exploding Jet Hose
A utility and infrastructure company has been fined £800,000 after a drainage engineer died following an explosion while priming a jet hose.
HSE’s investigation identified serious failings, including:
No safe system of work for priming the jetting system
Poor maintenance of work equipment – other vehicles also had defects
Lack of sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision
The worker was placed in an induced coma and tragically died 17 days later from his injuries.
👉 Read the full HSE press release on this case.
📊 Safety Climate Tool 2.0 – Helping Organisations Improve Culture
The Safety Climate Tool (SCT) 2.0, developed by HSE experts, helps organisations measure and improve their safety culture – the way safety is perceived and prioritised within the workplace.
The upgraded version includes:
Enhanced functionality and user experience
Improved analytics for actionable insights
New features to provide greater value for safety leaders
👉 Learn more about SCT 2.0
📺 Watch HSE’s YouTube overview
🖥️ Join the free webinar on 22 October to explore how to achieve safety culture excellence.
⚙️ Call for Evidence: Lifting Equipment & Pressure Systems Regulations
The HSE has launched a Call for Evidence on two key sets of regulations:
This review, part of the Government’s Regulatory Action Programme (RAP), aims to ensure that these frameworks remain effective, proportionate, and responsive to emerging technologies.
🗓️ The closing date for comments is 11 November 2025.
👉 Submit your input to the PSSR Call for Evidence and LOLER Call for Evidence pages.
🧾 Guidance on Permit-to-Work Systems
The HSE’s publication “Guidance on Permit-to-Work Systems: A Guide for the Petroleum, Chemical and Allied Industries (HSG250)” provides a comprehensive overview of how to manage hazardous work safely.
Read the full publication online here:
👉 Permit-to-Work Systems Guidance (HSG250)
💬 Comment from Matthew Chilcott – Owner, Consensus HR
“The recent HSE updates reinforce the importance of proactive safety management across every business sector.
Employers must not only meet their legal obligations but embed a strong safety culture where risks are identified and controlled before incidents occur.
At Consensus HR, we work with our clients to create practical, proportionate safety systems, ensuring compliance while maintaining operational efficiency. By addressing hazards such as working at height, equipment maintenance, and training, we help prevent tragedies and protect both employees and business reputation.”
🧰 How Consensus HR Can Help
At Consensus HR, our expert team provides Health & Safety support tailored for small and medium-sized businesses.
We assist with:
Workplace audits and risk assessments
Policy development and compliance reviews
Staff training and toolbox talks
Ongoing retained Health & Safety support
Learn more about how we can help your business stay compliant and safe:
🔗 Health & Safety Services – Consensus HR
📞 Contact Us
Stay Safe. Stay Compliant. Stay Protected with Consensus HR.
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