A major UK housebuilder has been fined after a 17-year-old apprentice bricklayer was injured when a temporary stairwell cover collapsed on a housing development site.

HSE Investigation and Findings

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that the joists beneath the timber cover should have been back-propped to support the weight. This requirement was clearly stated in Taylor Wimpey’s own health and safety manual, but had been overlooked on this plot.

Had suitably designed back propping been installed, the incident would likely have been prevented.

Key Lessons for Construction Sites

• Temporary flooring and stairwell covers must be properly supported and secured.
• Always follow manufacturer and company guidelines for structural temporary works.
• Supervisors must verify checks and back-propping before loading materials on upper floors.

Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of fatal workplace accidents in the UK, and a recent case tragically underlines the consequences of failing to control this risk.

Court Outcome

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), serious failings were identified:

• No protection around fragile skylights
• Lack of adequate supervision and safe work systems
• Failure to plan and manage roof work

At Wolverhampton Crown Court:

• Wayne Clarey, Director of Wayne Clarey Roofing & Cladding Limited, was handed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.
• His company was fined £45,000.
• Proclad Developments Limited, acting as principal contractor, was fined £400,000 for their part in the failings.

Safety signs are everywhere - on construction sites, in factories, offices, and even in schools and hospitals. They serve as constant visual reminders of hazards, controls, and emergency actions. But here’s the question: when was the last time you checked your workplace safety signage for compliance?

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), require employers to use safety signs whenever other measures - such as engineering controls or safe systems of work - cannot fully eliminate significant risks.

Types of Safety Signs You Must Know

Under the Regulations, four main categories of signs are required:

• Ø Prohibition signs - e.g., No unauthorised access (Red circle with a diagonal line)
• i Mandatory signs - e.g., Eye protection must be worn (Blue circle)
• ! Warning signs - e.g., Danger: High Voltage (Yellow triangle)
• + Emergency signs - e.g., Fire exit or First aid (Green rectangle or square)

When Did You Last Check Your Signs?

Many businesses overlook their signage during routine audits - yet faded, damaged, or missing signs can lead to accidents, enforcement action, and liability in the event of an incident.

Checklist for Employers:

• ✔ Are all hazards covered with clear signage?
• ✔ Are signs visible, legible, and correctly positioned?
• ✔ Have any workplace changes created new risks requiring new signage?

Most businesses, regardless of size, use or store chemical substances — from small containers of cleaning agents to large volumes of hazardous materials. The way these chemicals are stored is critical to preventing fires, explosions, and health risks.

If your workplace holds chemicals that are flammable or highly flammable, you have additional legal responsibilities to ensure safe storage and handling. Failure to comply with these standards can result in serious incidents and HSE enforcement action.

HSE Guidance for Chemical Storage

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides clear, detailed guidance for anyone responsible for the storage and handling of dangerous substances. Here are three essential resources:

Are You Compliant with COSHH and DSEAR?

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) impose strict requirements on chemical storage and use. Non-compliance can lead to HSE improvement or prohibition notices, fines, and in serious cases, prosecution.

Every day, millions of people across the UK head to work and return home safely. Sadly, for some, the day ends in tragedy. Despite strong regulation and safety standards, the world of work remains dangerous — and in some industries, fatal accidents are still a persistent risk.

The latest figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal the annual work-related fatality statistics for April 2024 to April 2025.

Chart Analysis

Construction recorded 35 deaths — the highest in absolute numbers — followed by Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing at 23 deaths. However, when we look at fatality rates, the picture changes dramatically.

• Construction fatality rate: 0.39 deaths per 100,000 workers
• Agriculture fatality rate: 6.3 deaths per 100,000 workers

This means a person working in farming or forestry is over 16 times more likely to die at work than someone in construction.

Other sectors with notable fatalities:

• Transport and Storage: 15
• Admin & Support: 13
• Manufacturing: 11

What Causes These Deaths?

HSE data shows the leading causes of workplace fatalities remain consistent year after year:

• Falls from height: 35
• Struck by moving object: 18
• Trapped by something collapsing: 17
• Struck by moving vehicle: 14
• Contact with moving machinery: 13

Falls from height continue to account for the largest proportion of workplace fatalities.

Why Farming and Construction Are So High Risk

The construction industry operates under strict legal frameworks like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which set clear duties for clients, designers, and contractors. These controls have saved countless lives — but non-compliance, cost-cutting, and poor planning still lead to preventable tragedies.

Farming, forestry, and fishing face different challenges:

• Reliance on unpredictable natural factors
• Tight profit margins leading to shortcuts
• Older machinery and fewer safety systems