International Women’s Day 2025 was observed on Saturday 8th March, with people around the world amplifying the conversation about women’s equality and working to #AccelerateAction. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) used the global awareness day to reflect on and highlight the challenges that women still face in the field of workplace...
Firm fined £1 million after workers suffered serious injuries
A wood manufacturing firm has been fined more than £1 million after two of its workers suffered “very serious injuries” in separate incidents. West Fraser (Europe) Ltd, formerly known as Norbord, is a multi-national manufacturer of wood-based products. They appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court in February to plead guilty to breaching health and safety...
HSE publishes latest workplace health and safety statistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published it’s latest workplace health and safety statistics. The annual statistics reveal the number of workers affected by work-related ill-health and workplace injuries in Great Britain from 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2024. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has revealed that the number of workers who...
Employment Rights Bill a ‘watershed moment’ for the UK, says IOSH
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has responded to the publication of the new Employment Rights Bill, saying it “has the potential to be a watershed moment for the UK,” providing “long overdue” protections for workers. IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Ruth Wilkinson, published a statement in response to the...
Health and safety for the winter season
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is providing employers with tailored seasonal guidance for protecting workers during the winter months. Britain’s health and safety watchdog is addressing health and safety risks for seasonal and temporary workers, lone workers, preventing slips, trips and falls on icy surfaces, working in low temperatures, and preventing manual handling...
IOSH campaign tackles unpaid hours affecting worker health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has launched a new campaign to highlight the issue of ‘small print’ in workers’ contracts, after their recent survey revealed an “epidemic” of unpaid work could be risking worker health and safety. The world’s largest occupational safety and health (OSH) body says that half of the...
Health and safety law turns 50
The UK’s landmark health and safety law – the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – turned 50 this summer. The world-leading health and safety law received Royal Assent on 31st July 1974 – which is now just over half a century ago. A former Chief Executive and Senior Inspector from the...
IOSH calls for focus on ‘looking after people at work’
Responding to the King’s Speech last month, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) welcomed plans to strengthen workers’ rights and urged a “greater focus more generally on looking after people at work.” IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Ruth Wilkinson, penned a blog post following the King’s Speech in the House...
Increase in work-related fatalities a ‘huge concern’
New figures published this week (3rd July) reveal that work-related fatalities have increased in Great Britain, with almost 3 workers now killed every week. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has said the rise of work-related fatalities is a “huge concern” and shows that urgent action is needed. The latest statistics for...
Health and safety can help tackle UK economic crisis
A poll conducted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found that many agreed that workplace health and safety can help tackle the UK’s current economic crisis. The snap social media poll conducted earlier this month found that more than two thirds of respondents (68%) said ‘Yes’ when asked if occupational safety...
Manufacturer fined £250K for ‘serious and avoidable’ incidents
A bedding manufacturer has been prosecuted and fined £250,000 after two of its employees were badly injured in “serious and avoidable” incidents at work. Sartex Quilts and Textiles Limited were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following separate serious incidents at its site in Rochdale in March 2020 and October 2021, which...
HSE: ‘too many’ metalworking firms lack key safety measures
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned that “far too many” metalworking firms lack key safety control measures to protect their workers. Britain’s health and safety watchdog began carrying out targeted inspections of metalworking firms last year. They have found that more needs to be done across the industry to protect workers from...
IOSH calls for ‘proactive and holistic’ approach to health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling for a “more proactive and holistic approach” to health and safety at work to prevent UK standards from falling. The world’s largest professional health and safety body is urging the government to ratify the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions relating to occupational safety and...
Firm fined after worker paralysed in ‘preventable’ incident
A manufacturing firm has been fined for health and safety failings after a worker was left paralysed following an “easily preventable” incident. Last month, Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker, a 65-year-old man from Worcester, suffered “life-changing” injuries when working for Mountfield CNC Ltd on 4th January 2022. He had been setting up...
Health and safety organisations form ‘historic alliance’
Leading professional health and safety organisations have formed an alliance to provide a unified voice for the sector. The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the British Safety Council (BSC), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Royal...