🔍 UK Construction & Health & Safety: What’s New
1. Construction firm fined after retaining wall collapse in Bath
H. Mealing & Sons Ltd has been fined £56,775 (plus over £44,000 in costs) after a 1.8m retaining wall collapsed onto an employee at Swainswick School. HSE found that poor planning, coordination and a failure to supervise temporary works led to the fatal incident.
2. Fire safety failure during apartment conversion leads to £165,000 fine
Glovers Court Ltd continued working on a 35-unit apartment development despite prohibition notices for major fire safety failings. HSE and Lancashire Fire and Rescue found there was no fire alarm system, inadequate means of escape, and compromised compartmentation.
3. IOSH warns of climate risk in new white paper on heat exposure
The heat is on white paper, released by IOSH, urges employers to factor rising temperatures and extreme weather into their workplace risk assessments. Construction workers are among the highest risk groups, particularly when exposed to long hours, poor ventilation and heat-absorbing PPE.
4. Fall-related injuries and fatalities remain high
HSE data shows that falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction, while manual handling and slips/trips cause tens of thousands of non-fatal incidents every year. Despite overall improvements, construction still ranks as the UK’s most dangerous sector.
✅ What Construction Employers Need to Know
These reports reinforce key responsibilities under UK law and the CDM Regulations:
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Temporary works must be competently designed and supervised. Even short-term supports require engineering judgement and planned risk mitigation.
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Fire precautions must remain active throughout the project. Prohibition notices can shut down work and lead to prosecution if ignored. Consider phased works and escape route planning.
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Climate risk is becoming a compliance issue. Heat exposure affects worker health and productivity. Updates to COSHH, risk assessments, and method statements may soon require explicit environmental hazard sections.
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Falls from height and manual handling remain high-risk activities. Without regular training, inspection, and procedural enforcement, the likelihood of serious harm remains elevated.
💼 How All Star Safety Ltd Can Help
All Star Safety Ltd supports UK construction companies in managing these challenges through:
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Health & Safety Consultancy: Fire risk assessments, temporary works audits, climate-aware safety reviews, and supervision support.
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Training Services: Working at height, manual handling, fire safety awareness, heat stress & environmental risk, temporary works safety, and more.
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NVQ Assessment: Level 2–7 qualifications in site safety, supervision, and management to demonstrate workforce competence and unlock CSCS cards.
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Policy Development: Comprehensive safe systems of work, site traffic plans, fire and emergency procedures, and H&S documentation audits.
📞 Contact All Star Safety Ltd today for expert advice and support.
Phone: 0330 133 0402 or 01473 561 402