Retailers have welcomed a UK government decision to make assaulting a shop worker a standalone criminal offence in England and Wales, but civil liberties groups have criticised plans to ramp up the use of facial recognition technology in town centres to help catch shoplifters.
By Kerry Reals on 10 April 2024
British Safety Council is calling on the next UK Government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Wellbeing and introduce a tax offset for businesses that invest in new technologies which drive up health, safety and wellbeing standards in the workplace, as part of a raft of suggested policies aimed at ensuring the next 50 years are the safest on record.
By British Safety Council on 20 March 2024
Employers could face legal action if they fail to make “reasonable adjustments” for women who are experiencing menopause symptoms, under new guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
By Kerry Reals on 22 February 2024
Millions of people globally are trapped in forms of modern slavery such as bonded labour, but businesses can play a vital role in confining the practice to the history books, once and for all.
By Dr Julie Riggs on 31 January 2024
2024 will see a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts rolled out, chiefly flexible working arrangements, carers’ leave and a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment.
By Belinda Liversedge on 04 January 2024
With the use of AI in the workplace predicted to become widespread, it is vital that employers carefully manage any associated health and safety risks, such as negative health impacts from using AI to monitor people’s work rates.
By Hannah Burton, Pinsent Masons LLP on 03 January 2024
Recent high-profile cases of suicide with an apparent link to work pressure provide a timely reminder of the need for employers to both reduce the risk of work-related stress and support the mental wellbeing of their teams.
By Phil Newton, Pinsent Masons LLP on 06 October 2023
The government has confirmed that it will allocate £200 million to fix private tower blocks that are wrapped in combustible aluminium composite material cladding, the same kind that sent the Grenfell Tower block up in flames back in June 2017, claiming the lives of 72 people.
By Stephen Horin on 04 July 2019
The recent news surrounding the tragic death of a 23-year-old contractor on a site in Lincoln in January 2020 has highlighted once more the risks associated with working in the construction industry.
By Josh Hughes on 10 March 2020
Before the coronavirus outbreak, health and safety was often seen as additional ‘red-tape’. Now, employees returning to work after having been told by the government to stay at home for their own safety will have increased health and safety concerns.
By Richard Thomas on 03 July 2020
