Improved guidance for self-employed workers

HSE has redesigned its webpages for self-employed workers to make it easier for them to understand when health and safety law applies and to find the guidance they need.

The refreshed pages explain:

• when health and safety law applies
• deciding if your work activity creates a risk to others
• high-risk work activities that apply to self-employed workers
• how to comply with the law if it applies to you

Find out more in our guidance for self-employed workers.

Company fined for unsafe scaffolding

The scaffolding provider was fined £30,000 for its failure to assemble safe scaffolding.

HSE's investigation identified:

• serious issues with the construction of the scaffold
• the assembly instructions had not been followed while the scaffold tower was being built
• no ladder was used to access the scaffold – workers climbed the rungs of the scaffold itself instead

HSE has guidance on tower scaffolds.

Read more about the incident in our press release: company fined for unsafe scaffolding.

You can visit our news centre for more on recent enforcement cases.

Working with hazardous substances

A variety of harmful substances are found in our working environments – knowing how to control these safely can help protect you from harm.

HSE's Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) webpages can help you understand the actions you should take to protect your health.

The site has useful guidance and resources for those who work with hazardous substances, including:

• what you need to do before you start your COSHH assessment
• how to carry out a COSHH risk assessment
• training for employees
  
  

Investigating accidents and incidents

HSE has a workbook for employers, unions, safety representatives and safety professionals to find out what went wrong after an accident or incident and identify risk they can easily avoid.

The workbook offers a step-by-step guide, to help organisations carry out their own health and safety investigations.

You can download a free copy from our website: Investigating accidents and incidents (HSG245).

HSE's most recent figures for 2023 to 2024 show that:

• 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents
• 604,000 working people sustained an injury at work
• 61,663 injuries to workers were reported under RIDDOR
  
  

Latest job vacancies at HSE

Join HSE, where you can develop your career and help protect people and places.

We currently have a range of vacancies, which include:

• Technical architect
  closes 24 March
• Scientific and administration support officer
  closes 25 March; 2 roles available
• Senior knowledge and information manager
  closes 31 March
  
  

Webinar: Building a robust safety culture

20 March, 12:00pm to 12:45pm

Join a free webinar presented by The Stationery Office (TSO), HSE’s official publishing partner. The webinar will look at the key reasons for adopting a safety culture-first mindset and some of the positive results that can be achieved by doing so. 

Register for the 'Building a robust safety culture' webinar.