Safety Regulator misses deadline to clear Gateway 2 backlog
The Building Safety Regulator has missed its target to clear the backlog of Gateway 2 approvals by April, stalling the start of dozens of high-rise residential projects across the country.
Latest figures reveal that over two-thirds of Gateway 2 applications transferred to the BSR last autumn remain unapproved, despite earlier assurances from officials that the logjam would be resolved by now.
The delays are beginning to impact project financing, with banks pulling back from the high-risk building sector.
One bank told the Enquirer it had been forced to reassess its exposure to schemes stuck in the approval process.
Read more on the Construction Enquirer website.
Bakery prosecuted after employee loses part of finger
A Sussex bakery firm has been fined £12,000, for failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, after an employee lost part of his left index finger.
Kevin Norman was working at the company’s production site in Henfield, West Sussex, on 20 December 2023, when he reached into the dough divider to remove a piece of dough that was stuck. The 64-year old’s finger got caught in a shear point created between the rotating drum and a transfer roller.
Despite the machine having guards and interlocks, the tunnel guard over the conveyor was too short, enabling Mr Norman to reach through it to remove the dough whilst the machine was still running, resulting in him losing part of his finger.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Truffles Bakers and Confectioners Limited had failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.
For more on the incident visit the HSM website.
Paddleboard tour leader jailed over deaths of four people
A paddleboard business owner has been jailed for 10 years and six months for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in 2021.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, following their tragic deaths following the incident in Haverfordwest Town Weir on 30 October 2021.
She admitted all four charges on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, along with one count under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Learn more on the HSE website.
Study highlights impact of excessive office noise
A new study from Oscar Acoustics highlights a growing workplace challenge: Excessive office noise is undermining productivity, employee wellbeing, and the ‘Great Return to the Office.’
Noise has become a major deterrent for employees returning to in-office work. The push to end hybrid working is gaining momentum, with corporate giants like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Barclays1 leading the charge and setting the tone for what some call “the great return.” Yet, despite efforts by employers to improve office environments, more than half (56%) of UK office workers still describe their workplaces as noisy, and fewer than one in three believe their surroundings fully support their productivity.
The findings, based on a survey of 2,000 UK business professionals, reveal the impact of poor acoustic design on employee satisfaction and productivity:
- 36% of employees work from home to escape office noise.
- A third have shifted their hours to find quiet periods.
- 26% have relocated their desks, while 1 in 5 report conflict caused by noise-related tensions with coworkers.
- 47% struggle to concentrate, 36% feel irritated, 30% report stress, and 7%—1 in 14—say they’ve suffered hearing damage from prolonged exposure.
Visit the HSM website for more on the research.
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