Features

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    From crisis to prevention: the urgent role of employers in upstreaming health

    Poor public health and long-term sickness absence are placing extreme financial pressure on the UK’s health and social care system and the overall economy. However, by investing in workplace health prevention programmes and education initiatives, employers can help reduce the scale of ill health among the population and minimise the associated costs for society and business alike.

    By Dr Julie Riggs, British Safety Council on 16 June 2025

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    Bonded labour: a persistent problem in India

    Although India banned bonded labour almost 50 years ago, the practice still persists throughout the country, prompting calls for the union and state governments to drastically step up their efforts to eradicate it.

    By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 11 June 2025

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    British Safety Council and Work Fair and Free join together to improve the health and safety of India’s migrant workers

    Migrant workers in India face significant risks to their health and safety, but a new community-based training programme by British Safety Council and labour rights organisation Work Fair and Free seeks to educate them on how to protect themselves and their co-workers from accidents and illness at work.

    By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 11 June 2025

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    How intelligent systems are preventing falls from height

    The powered height access equipment sector is increasingly developing intelligent technological solutions to prevent operators from acting in an unsafe manner and alert others to dangerous situations – and major contractors are now driving their take-up by mandating their adoption on sites.

    By Paul Rankin, Nationwide Platforms on 27 May 2025

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    Beyond compliance: why powered access safety should be a culture, not a checklist

    Powered access equipment is widely regarded as one of the safest methods for enabling work at height, but like any equipment, there is always scope for further improvements in its safe use. As a result, the industry’s trade body, the International Powered Access Federation, uses global campaigns, training, research and online incident reporting to encourage a culture where users of powered access are genuinely committed to safe working practices.

    By Brian Parker, IPAF on 30 April 2025

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    Are you checking PASMA cards properly?

    PASMA cards are a reliable way of checking operatives have been properly trained to correctly build and safely use mobile access towers, tower scaffolds and low level access equipment. However, it’s essential to carefully check things like the type of tower they are qualified on before allowing them to begin work on-site.

    By Don Aers, PASMA on 02 May 2025

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    Protecting lone workers: a structured approach is critical

    Whether dealing with the public in their homes or working in remote locations, lone workers face a variety of risks to their health, safety and wellbeing. It’s therefore vital that employers systematically identify and assess the specific hazards lone workers face and then implement suitable measures to mitigate them.

    By Naz Dossa, Peoplesafe on 06 June 2025

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    Engineered stone: managing a deadlier kind of dust

    Engineered stone dust contains up to 95 per cent silica, and younger workers are dying in its wake from a disease known as accelerated silicosis. Are we going fast enough to address the problem?

    By Belinda Liversedge on 26 May 2025

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    Why good visual management makes for safer construction sites

    The hazards and risks on construction sites constantly change as a project progresses, but carefully designed and placed signboards can both communicate crucial safety instructions and reinforce the employer’s expectations in terms of everyday safe behaviour.

    By Kevin Rowe, SafetyBuyer on 20 May 2025

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    Utility asset strikes: why greater sharing of information makes a ‘virtuous circle’ for safer digging

    A free-to-access database of underground pipes and cables in the UK is helping contractors to avoid dangerous and disruptive accidental asset strikes during digging works – and looks set for further expansion as more utility owners sign up.

    By Richard Broome, LSBUD (LinesearchbeforeUdig) on 19 May 2025