Safety Matters- August 2026

Boiling point!

It’s the topic that won’t go away this summer: yet another heatwave. Just when temperatures drop off from what feels more like the Mojave Desert than Middlesex, news of the next heatwave breaks. 

It is having serious consequences for the nation generally with wildfires and deaths directly from heat and drownings in open water frequently reported in the press.

It is a major workplace talking point too, for those not fortunate enough to be working in air-conditioned buildings. As we have regularly said: there is no upper temperature limit for workplaces, although there is always the overarching responsibility to keep workers safe under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Interestingly, it was revealed in parliament that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will launch a consultation on updating official guidance. With the view that heatwaves are here to stay, this may include setting clear parameters for a maximum recommended working temperature.

For now, you’ll need to rely on good practices. Work out the best ventilation and cooling tactics for your workplace, drawing on things like fans, windows and air conditioning. And for workers outside, design shifts which avoid the hottest parts of the day, supply and encourage the use of high factor sun screen, keep skin covered and wear a hat. Facilitate regular hydration and access to shade.

Engineered stone businesses ordered to stop work

In the previous edition of Safety Matters we brought you news of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) new approach to regulating engineered stone. It followed a two-year study into the effects of inhaling silica dust which can lead to silicosis – an untreatable and fatal disease. 

As well as specific guidance (including switching to low-silica engineered stone among other actions), they announced a regime of 1,000 inspections across 2026. With these underway, already several businesses have been issued with prohibition notices.

Sector specifically, it shows the urgency with which firms working with engineered stone need to act. And more generally, it points to the HSE’s teeth when it gets an issue in its sights. If you need help implementing safe processes for working with engineered stone, or have any health and safety matter you would like to deal with as a priority, please contact us for help.

Protecting the public

When the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes its annual workplace fatality statistics, the figure which grabs the headlines is invariably the number of workers killed (this year 126). 

Attention then moves to the top causes of fatalities for which falling from height stubbornly persists as the number one factor (this year 31).

Often less prominent is the number of members of the public who are killed at a workplace as reported under RIDDOR. 

The latest figures were published on 1st July 2026 (covering data up to March 2026) and showed that 104 members of the public were killed in UK workplaces. The previous year it was 96. Trend wise, it tends to fluctuate a few above or below 100 every year, with a drop off seen during the pandemic.

Not every business will have cause to interact with the public, and even when they do it may be lesser risks than fatality that need to be managed. 

One particularly topical risk right now is for constructions sites whilst children are on their summer holidays and may go roaming. An inadequately secured site may be a temptation too far, and see children exposed to harmful materials, falls and falling objects among many other hazards. A range of actions including securing sites when work is finished for the day, removing access ladders and locking away hazardous substances will likely be necessary.

There may be greater risk to employees and the public when you do things outside of your normal operations. 

In July, the HSE reported on a recent prosecution of a ceramics manufacturer. At an annual Christmas lights switch-on event, a 12-year-old girl suffered a deep cut to her head when an artificial snow machine fell from a window opening and hit a light resulting in a shard of glass striking her.

The HSE investigation found the snow machine was not secured properly despite there being clear manufacturer’s instructions. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that steps are taken to prevent material or objects from falling and striking employees or members of the public.

In this case, the company was fined in excess of £266,000, as well as having to pay other costs.

We strongly believe that one death in the workplace each year is one too many, regardless of whether they were an employee or third party. And we are here to help you incorporate the best health and safety practices into your operations. If you would like a review of risk assessments and safety measures in place for protecting the public in your business, just ask.

"When a plane comes in, everyone move's aside."

Risk assessments are a staple of good health and safety practice. 

But depending on the risk level of your business, they will have a greater or lesser role to play. Some businesses may just need a general risk assessment, whilst others may require multiple specific risk assessments that cover more dangerous work like operating heavy machinery, working from height or taking children out on a trip.

A danger in your approach to risk assessments could be complacency – not thinking sufficiently about either simple or more complicated workflows which then leads to an accident. Or a lack of experience and understanding on more complex risks; and not knowing specific regulations. 

Every week, the Health and Safety Executive publishes press releases on prosecutions. They often cite a lack of a risk assessment or safe system of work. Heavy fines are usually the outcome, and sadly when a matter gets to that stage, it usually means someone has been seriously injured or even died.

When you think about your risk assessments next, spare a thought for the boxers of Tuvalu (the fourth smallest island in the world) – one of whom just one a Commonwealth Games bronze medal. 

At only ten square miles in area, and under serious threat of submersion due to rising sea levels, the boxers train on the airport runway as the most stable piece of land. "When a plane comes in, everyone move's aside.", said one boxer in a BBC interview. They are not, of course, subject to UK health and safety law; but imagine covering that in your risk assessment!

We offer a risk assessment and method statements service (RAMS), to UK businesses, helping you catch all the risks and devise ways of eliminating or working around them. We are not expecting to have to help you dodge planes but we may assist with some other unusual risks pragmatically. If you would like to see exactly how we can help, please get in touch.

eLearning of the month: Risk assessments

In every issue of Safety Matters, we highlight one or two of our highly accessible eLearning courses, which will help you run a safer organisation.

This month, inspired by the scenario of having to account for avoiding approaching planes whilst boxing training, we are highlighting our Risk Assessment course. It is approved by IOSH and takes 35 minutes to complete. It covers why you should assess risks; when you should do it; the five steps to risk assessment and a risk assessment tool.

It will give anyone a basic grounding in risk assessments, but don’t forget on top of this we can provide an outsourced risk assessment and method statements service too. 

Our eLearning courses are video-based and are procured by purchasing credits which cost as little as £2 each + VAT (each course requires ten credits per person). There are dozens to choose from so contact us to find out more.