Category: In The News

Bosses ignoring asbestos removal regulations Tradespeople’s lives are being put at risk by bosses instructing workers to ‘get rid of asbestos themselves’, a study finds. 24 November 2024 marks 25 years since all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK. In light of the anniversary and to raise awareness around its pressing dangers, new […]

Company fined £900k after legionella risk to residents A company has been fined following an outbreak of legionella at its sheltered housing accommodation in Birkenhead, putting vulnerable residents at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease. The deadly bacteria was detected at Vincent Naughton Court following the sampling of its water systems in the communal areas and […]

Firm investigating potential peanut contamination A Leicester firm involved in the recall of 70 food products says investigations into a potential peanut contamination are ongoing. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising people with an allergy to avoid consuming foods that may contain mustard, because they could be contaminated with peanuts. Mustard ingredients – including […]

Call to put mental health injuries on par with physical injuries A leading corporate psychologist is spearheading a campaign calling for mental health injuries caused by work-related incidents to be treated with the same import as physical ones. Tina Catling, a principal practitioner for the Association for British Psychology, is a Fellow of the Institution […]

Wellbeing requires definition to help employers, report says Lack of definition around wellbeing hinders employers’ efforts to support workforce, new study finds. The lack of an agreed definition of wellbeing, and no shared way to quantify it or measure interventions to improve it, is holding employers back from supporting workers’ wellbeing, new research has revealed. […]

Chemicals firm fined following explosion A solvents manufacturer has been fined following an explosion at its factory in the Scottish Borders. The blast at Rathburn Chemicals in Walkerburn on 10 January 2020 resulted in a laboratory, which was part of the factory, being demolished. It was likely caused by excessive pentane vapour, generated by the […]

Two-thirds of employees stressed by work Work is the third biggest cause of stress for UK employees, after lack of sleep and money worries, according to new research. Over two-thirds (70%) of the 1,238 employed adults surveyed by HR software provider Ciphr, identified at least one aspect of work that contributes to their stress levels. Work […]

National Grid fined £3.2million after pylon worker suffers serious burns The National Grid has been fined more than £3million after its failures left a father-of-two with life-changing injuries from working on a pylon in South Wales. Justin Hollins was working replacing step bolts on the pylon at Treforest Industrial Estate in Pontypridd, when he received […]

Minister announces reform of construction products regulatory regime In a statement to Parliament, Rushanara Ali, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has announced a reform of the construction products regulatory regime, and an extension of the CE quality marking recognition. Existing construction products regulations set out rules for placing construction products on the […]

Spike in violence towards female commuters British Transport Police Authority’s 2024 annual report shows the number of crimes against women and girls on their commute rose from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023. Violent attacks against women while they commute on British railways have more than doubled since 2021, according to shocking new data […]