Although non-compliance with environmental, safety and social responsibility laws and duties can prove extremely costly in terms of fines and reputational damage, businesses that prioritise excellent environmental, social and governance standards can reap a variety of financial and related benefits.
By Emma Tattersdill and Emma Evans Bexley Beaumont law firm on 05 March 2026
Businesses that publicly demonstrate good sustainability performance can reap financial, reputational and other benefits, but it’s important to minimise the cost of any reporting on sustainability issues and to focus efforts on improving aspects of sustainability where the benefits outweigh the costs.
By Alastair Loasby, Saffery LLP on 27 February 2026
The fast-moving geopolitical, environmental and social landscape is making it increasingly difficult for organisations to identify, predict and plan for emerging safety hazards and risks, making it more important than ever for safety practitioners to spot the early warning signs before serious harm occurs and alert their employer and the global OSH community.
By Dr Julie Riggs, British Safety Council on 30 January 2026
I suffered devastating injuries in a totally preventable fall from height at work, and I’m passionate in encouraging all employers to do more to educate workers about the dangers of taking short-cuts with safety.
By Paul Blanchard, Life After an Accident on 19 May 2025
Drones are often used to avoid the need for humans to work at height, but they can also be used in certain dangerous confined spaces, such as silos, sewers and tanks, reducing the risk to workers.
By Neil Blacklock, Rainham Industrial Services on 16 May 2025
Violence against shop workers has more than doubled in a year, according to Usdaw’s latest annual survey, as official figures show that shoplifting has risen by over a third. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers.
By Paddy Lillis, Usdaw on 26 April 2024
In recent months, political leaders around the world have rallied behind an all too familiar battle cry: seeking to slash “red tape” and unlock promised profits, productivity, and potential. This pledge for regulatory reduction perpetuates a dangerous and false dichotomy - that safety regulations and economic prosperity exist only in opposition to one another. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 02 May 2025
Research by the Ladder Association has repeatedly revealed serious concerns about the safety and quality of telescopic ladders sold in the UK via online marketplaces. Now, the Association is expanding its market surveillance, research and testing programme to cover ladders sold by physical stores, to both root out non-compliant ladders and identify those that are good quality and safe to use.
By Peter Bennett OBE, Ladder Association on 01 May 2025
Workers across the world are increasingly being exposed to excessive heat with serious implications for their safety and health. It is therefore vital that governments, employers and workers’ organisations develop, share and implement practical and low-cost strategies and measures for effectively reducing the risk from heat stress at work.
By Halshka Graczyk and Lacye Groening, ILO on 07 April 2025
In 2024, for the first time, the UK dropped out of the list of the top 20 happiest countries: according to the World Happiness Index. This year, the UK rests in 23rd place, slightly ahead of the US and behind the Nordic countries, Germany, the UAE and others.
By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 07 April 2025
Air pollution is often invisible; its impact is anything but. Whether you’re a parent worried about your child’s lungs, a construction worker breathing exhaust fumes, or a commuter passing through busy streets, polluted air is everyone’s problem.
By Scott Paul, Mums for Lungs on 04 April 2025
The way we cook is more than just a matter of taste and convenience – it’s a critical climate, health, safety, and economic issue. Despite the growing momentum toward building electrification, cooking remains one of the last strongholds of fossil fuel reliance in our homes and commercial kitchens.
By Tushar Nair, Global Cooksafe Coalition on 01 April 2025
Engineering solutions for noise control on plant, machinery and tools are often straightforward, low-cost and bring financial savings themselves, so it’s time employers moved away from the default position of purchasing and issuing personal hearing protection to workers.
By Gill Cussons, Noise & Vibration Solutions on 13 March 2025
