This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Established by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the HSE was officially launched on 1st January 1975 under its first Director General, John Locke. In April of 1975, new legal duties were introduced for employers, the self-employed, and employees, with the HSE responsible for … Read More
Building Fire Safety Updated Approved Document B Published
For building work in England, guidance on how to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations is given in a series of “Approved Documents.” Approved Document B covers fire safety matters and is split into separate guidance for dwellings and other buildings. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has released an updated version of Approved Document B. The … Read More
Protecting Properties Against Flooding
According to research conducted by the Association of British Insurers, a total of £585 million was paid out for weather-related damage to people’s homes and possessions in 2024. This is a record high compared to the £485 million paid out in 2023. By the end of 2024, there had been a total of 7 consecutive quarters in which weather-related claims … Read More
The Building Safety Act – Are you meeting your legal responsibilities?
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) enforces stricter regulations and oversight across construction and related sectors. The Act goes beyond CDM 2015 and the Building Regulations Act 2012, setting clear competency standards for construction. The Building Safety Act 2022 represents a significant shift in construction safety and competency requirements. Compliance is no longer optional, it is a legal requirement. Ensuring … Read More
Reasonable adjustments for neurodiverse employees
It is a well-established principle of equality legislation that employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to support disabled workers. What is reasonable will depend on the particular circumstances but could include measures such as: Finding a different way to do something, such as providing training in a different way, allowing extra time for certain tasks or considering … Read More
New business waste and recycling rules in England
Individuals, households, businesses and other organisations all have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibly. Similar to the way that most households have separate collections for different types of domestic waste, new regulations coming into effect in England at the end of March 2025 will require most workplaces to … Read More
Hazards of installing stone worktops
Silica is a natural substance found in most stone, rocks, sand, quartz and clay. This can be released as dust during a number of tasks. Some of the dust created when working with this material may be fine enough to reach deep inside the lungs; this is known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). This can be harmful to health, and significant exposure … Read More
Fire safety in small premises
In 2023 the Home Office published 3 new guides to help responsible persons and building owners comply with their fire safety duties in small non-domestic premises, guest accommodation and blocks of flats. Following changes to legal requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, the Home Office has now issued updated versions of those guides. All three guides explain … Read More
Importance of Tree Risk Management during Winter
During winter storms in the UK, trees pose significant risks, particularly to commercial properties. High winds and heavy snowfall can weaken branches, potentially leading to breakage or entire tree falls that may damage buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure, as well as pose a risk to life. According to the Health and Safety Executive, the combination of severe weather and poor … Read More
Updated Fire Door Hardware Code Of Practice
The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), together with the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), has published an updated code of practice for the selection of building hardware for use on fire-resisting and escape door assemblies and door sets. The term door hardware covers a wide range of door fittings, such as hinges, door-closing devices, locks and latches, door bolts, … Read More