📰 Industry news worth watching
HSE issues Call for Evidence on LOLER & PSSR
On 1 October 2025, the HSE launched a formal Call for Evidence to review both the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR). The aim is to modernise and simplify regulatory processes while preserving safety standards, taking into account technological advances and evolving industry practices.
This signals that changes may be coming for how lifting equipment is regulated, documented, and inspected. Companies using cranes, hoists, pressure vessels or similar plant should monitor developments closely and consider submitting feedback during the consultation period (1 October to 11 November).
AI is entering scaffold inspections
A recent research preprint explores applying AI and point‑cloud analysis to scaffold inspection tasks. The system uses reference models and compares them against fresh scanned data to flag deviations or structural irregularities — potentially reducing human error and shortening inspection times.
While it’s early-stage, this kind of tech hints at a future where digital audits, drones and automated checks augment (though not replace) hands‑on inspection regimes.
Training costs to rise as funding shifts
Construction employers are being warned of imminent increases in training expenditure. From 1 January 2026, government support for Level 7 (master’s level) courses for learners aged 22 and over is being withdrawn. This could force employers to cover full costs — in some reports up to £14,000 per employee for senior leadership programmes.
For firms reliant on apprenticeships, upskilling or leadership pathways, the message is clear: act now before costs shift.
Construction still the deadliest sector, though fatalities fall
New HSE reporting confirms that 35 construction workers died in work-related incidents in the year to March 2025, a sharp fall from previous years. Nevertheless, construction remains the most dangerous sector, accounting for 28% of all workplace deaths.
Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatalities — emphasising that height safety cannot be treated as routine.
🧩 What this means for All Star Safety & our clients
These developments collectively point to strategic priorities we must emphasise in our training, NVQ and consultancy work:
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LOLER/PSSR readiness audits and consultations: We should prepare to assist clients in assessing their current compliance, and guide them through any evolving regulatory requirements or documentation demands.
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Integrating digital inspection in our offering: While AI‑based scaffold checks are not yet off the shelf, we can begin trialling hybrid workflows—combining drone scans, point clouds and manual inspection—and use that capability as a differentiator.
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Lock in training pathways now: Given the funding shift for Level 7 courses, companies should consider enrolling or securing funding before January 2026. We can package leadership programmes, NVQ upskilling or safety management training now to mitigate future cost shocks.
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Use fatality data as a motivator: The continuing prevalence of fatal falls offers a strong opening in risk assessments, campaign communications and training modules.
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Reinforce height safety and competency: Given the fatality patterns, our training (for example in work-at-height, temporary works, scaffold safety) remains a high priority in every contract.
✅ Actions you can implement today
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Review your clients’ lifting equipment, hoists, pressure systems and associated logs — flag any uncertainties or compliance gaps ahead of regulatory review.
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Experiment with integrating aerial scans, point clouds or 3D capture on one or two scaffold projects to test hybrid inspection models.
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Audit your current leadership / postgraduate training pipeline and push clients to commit before funding changes.
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Refresh your work-at-height training, using the latest HSE casualty data to sharpen relevance.
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Use your safety consultancy meetings to emphasise the dual trends — more regulation incoming (LOLER/PSSR) and emergent technology risks/opportunities (AI inspection).
If you’d like help preparing a LOLER/PSSR readiness audit, building digital scaffold inspection trials, or restructuring training/NVQ programmes before cost changes land, call All Star Safety Ltd on 0330 133 0402 or 01473 561 402.