Health, safety & environment

Letter to the new PM. IOSH has written to the Prime Minister encouraging his government to invest further in occupational health and safety legislation and the HSE to protect workers from harm. It has called for an improved focus on mental health, while adding it is encouraged by the government’s forthcoming Employment Rights Bill. Protections for those in gig work, the informal economy and in global supply chains, as well as the right to “switch off”, which Labour promised before the election, will be welcomed to improve the welfare of UK workers. ...

Green guff. There are new rules to clamp down on terms like “environmentally friendly” and “sustainable” which are too vague (see The next step ). But that hasn’t stopped people changing tainted terms for new ones. Environmental attribute certificates (EACs). This is the new term on the block. According to the science-based targets initiative, which certifies net-zero plans and targets, EACs “encompass a diverse range of instruments that certify and communicate specific environmental or sustainability attributes of a given activity or commodity. By verifying that certain environmental standards or sustainability criteria have been met, these certificates enable companies to substantiate their environmental claims and support compliance with voluntary or regulatory schemes.” (see The next step ). ...

Data indicates a growing number of building control inspectors are registering with the Building Safety Regulator, reflecting the industry’s commitment to upholding high standards. What does this mean for your business?

If you employ truck drivers, safety should always be your top priority, and it’s important to stay up to date with the latest safety measures to protect your business. What’s new for lorry drivers?

A principal contractor has been fined after the death of a delivery driver. What went wrong and what safety measures should you put in place when working near overhead power lines (OHPLs), whether on a temporary or permanent site?

A builder has been given a suspended prison sentence after he put the lives of workers at risk on a construction site in London. Why was he prosecuted and what should you do to proactively protect your workers.