Here in the UK, we are already living with the consequences of climate change. We’ve recently had repeated heatwaves, which followed heavy rainfall and flooding across many parts of the country earlier this year. Climate change is shaping the conditions in which we live and work today. Climate change is most definitely a workplace-safety issue.
By Sophie Vipond, Climate Change Committee on 28 July 2026
For many years, hot weather in the UK construction sector was treated largely as a comfort issue, something to manage with extra water breaks and a shaded rest area.
By Dr Alba Fuertes, University of Reading on 28 July 2026
The climate crisis is coming home. This year has smashed heat records for the UK, with the record for the hottest June day obliterated and the first year on record to see temperatures of 35°C or above in May, June and July.
By Liam Geary Baulch, Heat Strike on 28 July 2026
How does a personal injury lawsuit differ from a workplace safety investigation? In light of Stephen Fry’s claim over his 2023 stage fall, John Kushnick, legal director at the National Accident Helpline, highlights the key differences between civil and criminal safety law, from the power of a risk assessment to proving contributory negligence.
By John Kushnick, National Accident Helpline on 03 June 2026
For decades, occupational safety and health systems have focused on preventing physical harm at work. This focus has saved lives and significantly reduced workplace accidents. However, one of the most significant sources of harm in today’s workplaces remains under-recognised: psychosocial risks.
By Manal Azzi, International Labour Organization (ILO) on 03 June 2026
Recent high-profile HSE enforcement action on work-related stress suggests we are beginning to see a shift from guidance to regulatory action, making it essential employers ensure they are adequately managing the causes of stress and poor mental wellbeing at work.
By Emma Evans, Bexley Beaumont law firm on 02 June 2026
The Government’s consultation on new flexible working rights closed last month – providing a clearer picture of the mechanism for the Labour Government’s manifesto commitment to deliver flexible working ‘by default’.
By Tess Lanning, director of programmes, Timewise on 18 May 2026
There are an estimated 15 million women who menstruate in the UK, 72 per cent of whom are in work (source: ONS). Research shows that menstruation symptoms have a measurable impact on work: employees lose an average of 8.4 days of productivity each year, 13.8 per cent report taking absence during their period, and one in four say it has impacted their career.
By Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder, Menstruation Friendly by Henpicked on 15 May 2026
When we talk about personal protective equipment (PPE), we are talking about a worker’s last line of defence. If it fails, the worker is no longer protected from the hazards they face. This is why we say that all workers having PPE that fits their bodies isn’t just a matter of respect, it can quite literally be a matter of life and death.
By Melanie Bartlett and Lynsey Mann, GMB Union on 12 May 2026
For years, workers across several industries have relied on PPE which was never designed to fit them properly, putting both their comfort and their safety at risk. The CIOB’s #PPEThatFits campaign and a new British Standard are now driving a long-overdue shift towards inclusive protective equipment.
By CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) and #PPEThatFits campaign on 08 May 2026
Personal protective equipment (PPE) came to widespread public consciousness when it became the final line of defence for not only those in care and health services, but also those in retail, education and visiting your vulnerable nan.
By Kirsteen Sullivan MP on 05 May 2026
Equality and inclusion are often discussed in workplaces as matters of culture or values. In health and safety, they are matters of life and death, health and dignity.
By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 05 May 2026
Changes to employment legislation relating to sexual harassment at work, which came into force in October 2024, imposed a new ‘preventative’ legal duty on employers, requiring them to be more proactive in preventing sexual harassment from occurring.
By Annie Gray, Schofield Sweeney law firm on 05 May 2026
