HSE Updates and Safety Priorities: What Employers Need to Know in 2025

HSE Updates and Safety Priorities: What Employers Need to Know in 2025

As a national training provider committed to helping organisations stay compliant and informed, we're seeing significant developments in the UK’s health and safety landscape this year. From updates in HSE enforcement to new legal mandates, staying ahead is not just smart—it’s essential.

Here’s a concise breakdown of the latest changes and what they mean for your business and your workforce.

🔍 HSE Enforcement Focus: Machinery, Events, and Hybrid Risks

Recent HSE prosecutions underscore the need for ongoing vigilance and training. In one case, a flour mill was fined £300,000 after a preventable machinery incident led to life-changing injuries. This serves as a reminder: even well-established businesses must review their risk assessments and ensure staff are properly trained on machine guarding and lock-off procedures.

Meanwhile, with the popularity of farm-based public events rising, HSE has reinforced guidance around managing public safety at open-air venues. Organisers must have clear visitor protocols, trained staff, and effective signage to control risks—especially when children or vulnerable adults are present.

Hybrid working is also reshaping safety obligations. Employers must now account for workstation ergonomics, fire safety, and mental health risk factors—even in remote settings.

⚠️ Top Regulatory Priorities for 2025–26 (LAC 67/2)

Each year, the HSE sets out key inspection priorities for local authorities. In 2025–26, the top issues include:

• Occupational lung diseases – from silica dust to welding fumes.

• Work-related stress and mental health – still the top cause of lost workdays.

• Musculoskeletal disorders – especially in warehousing, retail, and care sectors.

• Violence and aggression risks – especially where lone working is common.

• Workplace transport and work-at-height incidents – both still major injury sources.

If your organisation is in construction, manufacturing, social care, hospitality, or logistics, you should be reviewing your risk control strategies now.

🏛 New Legislation on the Horizon

Significant legislative changes are either live or coming soon:

• Building Safety Act & Fire Safety Regulations – Fire risk assessments and resident engagement plans are mandatory for high-risk residential buildings.

• Awaab’s Law (October 2025) – Requires swift response times to damp and mould issues in social housing.

• Procurement Act 2023 – Introduces new criteria for public contract bids, including health and safety compliance.

Our recommendation? Train relevant teams—especially facilities, maintenance, and procurement managers—on these updated duties.

📌 Other Safety Trends to Watch

• Shift work and fatigue: HSE guidance highlights the health impacts of irregular hours. Employers should consider fatigue risk management plans and wellbeing support.

• Lead exposure surveillance: Recent data shows decorators and painters among those with elevated blood-lead levels—raising questions around COSHH training adequacy.

• New fire alarm standards (BS 5839‑1:2025): All non-domestic premises must align with this updated British Standard.

• Martyn’s Law (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025): This became law on 3 April 2025, launching a 24-month implementation window during which venues must prepare for enforcement. Organisations must determine whether they fall into the standard tier (200–799 people), requiring basic protection procedures, or the enhanced tier (800+ people), which also mandates physical security measures and documentation. With civil and criminal penalties in play, it’s crucial to act now—training focused on situational awareness, lockdown and evac procedures, crowd management and access control is no longer optional—it’s a legal necessity.

✅ How Training Closes the Gap

Proactive training is your first line of defence against non-compliance and injury. Whether it’s refresher courses in manual handling, fire safety, or COSHH—keeping staff up to date with real-world risks and evolving standards is essential.

We’re here to help. Our tailored training programmes are designed around your sector, your risks, and your workforce needs—online, in person, or blended.

Want to learn more? Get in touch for a free consultation or to book a compliance health check today to check your training requirements are meeting your operational needs.