This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Established by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the HSE was officially launched on 1st January 1975 under its first Director General, John Locke. In April of 1975, new legal duties were introduced for employers, the self-employed, and employees, with the HSE responsible for … Read More
Protecting Properties Against Flooding
According to research conducted by the Association of British Insurers, a total of £585 million was paid out for weather-related damage to people’s homes and possessions in 2024. This is a record high compared to the £485 million paid out in 2023. By the end of 2024, there had been a total of 7 consecutive quarters in which weather-related claims … Read More
Reasonable adjustments for neurodiverse employees
It is a well-established principle of equality legislation that employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to support disabled workers. What is reasonable will depend on the particular circumstances but could include measures such as: Finding a different way to do something, such as providing training in a different way, allowing extra time for certain tasks or considering … Read More
New business waste and recycling rules in England
Individuals, households, businesses and other organisations all have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibly. Similar to the way that most households have separate collections for different types of domestic waste, new regulations coming into effect in England at the end of March 2025 will require most workplaces to … Read More
Fire safety in small premises
In 2023 the Home Office published 3 new guides to help responsible persons and building owners comply with their fire safety duties in small non-domestic premises, guest accommodation and blocks of flats. Following changes to legal requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, the Home Office has now issued updated versions of those guides. All three guides explain … Read More
Did lowering the speed limit work?
On 17th September 2023 the Welsh Government introduced a standard 20 mph speed limit on all restricted roads in Wales. The majority of these roads are located in residential and built-up areas, and previously most restricted roads in Wales followed the UK standard speed limit of 30 mph. This change increased the approximate total length of roads in Wales with … Read More
Importance of Tree Risk Management during Winter
During winter storms in the UK, trees pose significant risks, particularly to commercial properties. High winds and heavy snowfall can weaken branches, potentially leading to breakage or entire tree falls that may damage buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure, as well as pose a risk to life. According to the Health and Safety Executive, the combination of severe weather and poor … Read More
Updated Fire Door Hardware Code Of Practice
The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), together with the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), has published an updated code of practice for the selection of building hardware for use on fire-resisting and escape door assemblies and door sets. The term door hardware covers a wide range of door fittings, such as hinges, door-closing devices, locks and latches, door bolts, … Read More
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans In Residential Buildings
Following on from Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in 2021, the government carried out a consultation on proposals to introduce a requirement for owners or managers of high-rise residential buildings to have personal emergency evacuation plans (“PEEPs”) in place for those residents who would have difficulty self-evacuating in the event of a fire. While PEEPs are common … Read More
New And Updated Compressed Gas Guidance
The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) recently published an updated edition of their Code of Practice covering “The Safe Use of Individual Portable or Mobile Cylinder Gas Supply Equipment”. The code covers safe use of gas supplied in either single cylinders or bundles of cylinders, e.g., oxygen, acetylene, helium, nitrogen, LPG, etc. Topics covered include: Cylinder storage, transportation, and … Read More