Risk of exposure of laboratory staff to biological agents Since the publication of our safety notice last year, HSE has continued receiving a high number of Dangerous Occurrences reported under RIDDOR from diagnostic laboratories. Communication failures of relevant clinical information to laboratories are leading to the exposure of laboratory staff to high hazard biological agents. …
Stress Awareness Week 2025 (3 to 7 November) Stress is a health and safety risk – and it’s the law to act. As Stress Awareness Week 2025 gets underway, HSE’s Working Minds campaign can help you do so. We’re reminding employers that work-related stress is a legal health and safety issue under: the Health and Safety at Work …
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health issue at some point. While most conditions are mild and treatable, anxiety and depression are particularly common and can arise from both personal and work-related challenges. As this week marks the beginning of Stress Awareness Week, we would like to introduce you to a …
We are issuing an urgent safety warning as in just one week, three severe e-bike fires have gutted homes in separate parts of London. The first fire at a semi-detached house in Mitcham prompted 26 calls to our Control officers, and sadly saw the whole house, and a car parked outside, destroyed by the blaze. …
HSE’s 2025 benchmarking data, drawn from more than half a million survey responses, provides organisations using the Safety Climate Tool and Stress Indicator Tool with a clear view of industry-wide performance standards. Whether seeking to understand your organisation’s attitudes and perceptions of work-related stress or safety, analysing your scores against industry benchmarks can identify performance gaps, highlight opportunities to …
Plugging too many devices into one plug socket might seem harmless, yet it poses a serious hazard in homes. Many of us have been tempted to cram an extra gadget into a multi-plug adaptor, but that ‘just one more’ could be one too many if it leads to an overloading electrical sockets. Overloaded sockets are …
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) has successfully prosecuted a supported living care provider for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which put the lives and safety of tenants at risk. The care provider, Potensial Limited, pleaded guilty to two breaches on Burnley Road, Colne, BB8 8LA. On 30 July 2019, …
HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS: We’re delighted to today release our latest telescopic ladder market surveillance report, part of our ongoing ‘Step Up to Safe Ladders’ campaign. In our latest study, we investigated the safety of telescopic ladders bought from online platforms AND the most popular dedicated DIY retailers. Download the report now and see how DIY retail giants B&Q and trades’ favourite Screwfix, fared against the online marketplaces Amazon, …
Man sentenced after carrying out illegal gas work The man was given a 6-month suspended prison sentence after carrying out illegal gas work in homes while unregistered, despite previous warnings from HSE. Contractor given suspended prison sentence after ignoring prohibition notice The 20-week suspended sentence came after the contractor ignored a prohibition notice from HSE, …
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health issue at some point. While most conditions are mild and treatable, anxiety and depression are particularly common and can arise from both personal and work-related challenges. Whether work is causing the health issue or aggravating it, employers have a legal responsibility to help their employees. …
