Category: In The News

Serco fined £2.25m after death of custody officer Security firm, Serco, has been fined £2.25 million for health and safety failings following the death of custody officer Lorraine Barwell. Ms Barwell, a 54-year-old grandmother was kicked twice, once in the body and once in the head, at Blackfriars Crown Court in 2015 during the restraint […]

RCN concerned after mental health hub closures The RCN has learned that out of 41 mental health hubs established to support health and social care staff in England, a third have already closed, leaving an estimated one million people unsupported. A further seven of the specialist hubs, which were launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, have […]

HSE targets construction workers’ lung health with nationwide inspection campaign Failure to prevent life-threatening diseases caused by dust at work is unacceptable, says the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as it gears up for a summer targeting construction sites across Great Britain. Supported by HSE’s Dust Kills campaign, which provides free advice to businesses and workers on […]

Employers being impacted as menopause is often misdiagnosed as depression Employers are being impacted by a common misdiagnosis of psychological menopause symptoms, experts have said. Bosses at digital health app Peppy are warning employers that the condition is often misdiagnosed as depression – which can lead to absence and resignation – other mental health issues […]

Report gets ‘Under the Surface of Health and Safety’ RS has released the ‘Under the Surface of Health and Safety’ report, based on findings from a survey that aimed to explore challenges and priorities for health and safety professionals in the current climate. The survey was conducted among more than 700 respondents working in health […]

Nearly £50 million boost for safer roads Drivers, passengers and cyclists across England will benefit from a £47.5 million injection into enhancing the safety of some of the most high-risk roads in England, the Department for Transport confirmed earlier this month. Through the third round of the Safer Roads Fund, 27 new schemes will be […]

Action needed to support mental health of finance workers Employers in financial services should act to retain talent in the industry as new findings from MHFA England highlight the impact of poor mental health. 83% of finance sector employees have considered changing jobs due to the impact of work on their mental health, with nearly […]

Fines after house partially collapses A construction company and its director have been fined for health and safety failings after a house partially collapsed in Manchester. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the property on Caxton Road, Fallowfield, on 22 September 2020 after being informed an exterior wall had collapsed during construction work undertaken […]

Company fined £175,000 after worker suffers brain trauma A London company has been fined £175,000 after a worker suffered serious head injuries that saw him hospitalised for seven months. The man, who was 35 at the time, was working at a domestic property on Elmfield Avenue, Crouch End, London, on 3 March 2019 when he […]

Safety body warns of non-compliant PPE The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is warning those in charge of PPE and safety product procurement to be vigilant about substandard products, as its latest non-member product tests highlight the availability of high levels of non-compliant products. Between December 2021 and December 2022, the BSIF completed tests on […]