Health and safety matters for all seasonal and temporary workers

With many seasonal jobs available at this time of year, employers must prioritise the health and safety of gig economy, agency and temporary workers

Workers are as likely to experience an accident in the first 6 months at a workplace as they are over the rest of their working life. HSE’s website has guidance on 6 ways to protect those who are new to the job.

We also advice to help users and suppliers of agency and temporary workers understand their health and safety responsibilities.

If you are an agency or temporary worker, the law safeguards your health and safety and employment businesses (agencies) must ensure they follow these requirements for every agency or temporary worker.

Working safely with fireworks

Whether you are involved in storing, selling or organising firework displays, we have the guidance you need for a safe event

If you are planning a firework display, there is guidance available to help you use fireworks safely.

HSE’s website also includes tips on what to do before, during and after a firework event in our guidance on organising a firework display.

For those involved in the commercial side, we offer further support for safe handling practices in our guidance on storing and selling fireworks.

You can also download a free copy of our leaflet storing and selling fireworks safely.

Preventing slips, trips and falls this autumn

Darker evenings and colder weather can increase the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace

Environmental factors like poor lighting, rain, frost and condensation can makes slips and trips accidents more frequent. Protect your workers by considering the risks and putting measures in place to reduce them:

too little light will prevent people from seeing hazards on the floor and stairs
if rainwater gets onto a smooth surface inside or outside of a building, it may create a slip hazard. Well-designed entrances with features like canopies can reduce this risk
cold weather can cause frost and ice to form, which may create slippery surfaces
condensation can settle on smooth floors, making them slick and unsafe

Our website has more guidance on the steps you can take to prevent slips and trips.

Stress Awareness Week: 4 to 8 November 2024

Many people still don’t realise that it’s a legal duty to include work-related stress in risk assessments.

You can help change that during stress awareness week by:

supporting HSE’s Working Minds campaign which has advice and resources you’ll need to help prevent stress
sign up to the monthly campaign ebulletin for updates and our latest resources

Director sentenced after filming accident

A media company and its director have been prosecuted after an employee suffered life-changing head and brain injuries while filming from the open boot of a moving car in Devon. The worker fell onto the tarmac during filming for a motorcycle review and has been unable to return to work since. [press.hse.gov.uk], [hsmsearch.com] The incident

Electrical wholesaler fined £4m after worker crushed

A City Electrical Factors Limited employee suffered life-changing injuries after a 231kg switchboard unit fell from a forklift truck during loading operations at the company’s Proteus Switchgear Industrial Division in Telford on 4 October 2024. The 40-year-old father of one sustained severe brain and spinal injuries and now requires 24-hour care in a residential facility.