A LANDLORD has been jailed for breaching health and safety regulations after a fatal fire in an unofficially converted basement flat.  Philip Sheridan, 32, died of injuries suffered in a blaze at the property where he lived in Berkeley Grove, Harehills, Leeds.

The sister of a man killed while unloading a lorry trailer has spoken of the devastating impact her brother’s death has had on their family.  Anthony Clark, 51, from Darlington worked for GCS Johnson Limited, a trucking company based in North Yorkshire.  On 17 August 2018 the father-of-two was helping move a large piece of machinery from one trailer to another at the GCS Johnson depot at Barton Quarry industrial estate in Richmond.

Exclusive: Research comes amid evidence that driving on less than five hours’ sleep is as dangerous as drink-driving  A blood test to measure whether a driver who has caused an accident was impaired by lack of sleep could be available within two years, making it easier to legislate against drowsy drivers or their employers..

Businesses are being urged to limit the amount of alcohol served at work social events in order to prevent people from acting inappropriately towards others.  The warning from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) comes as it releases a new poll, suggesting a third of managers have seen harassment or inappropriate behaviour at parties.

The world of workplace health and safety is rapidly evolving, and businesses must adapt to comply with an increasingly stringent regulatory landscape. As tougher legislation and tightening standards are making it more important than ever for companies to prioritise the health and safety of their employees.  At the heart of this challenge lies the need for EHS strategy to be inherently flexible, and being able to adapt to an ever-changing regulatory environment. This requires a shift in mindset from reactive compliance to proactive risk management. By mitigating risks for employees, businesses can safeguard themselves against costly litigation and reputational damage.

 A Company that produces wood flooring in Somerset has been hit with a massive fine over a health and safety breach.  Wood Flooring Engineered Ltd pleaded guilty to the offence at Taunton Magistrates' Court yesterday (Wednesday, April 26).

A joinery firm in South East London has been fined £20,000 for failing to control its employees’ exposure to wood dust.  F&E Joinery Limited, in Herne Hill, was inspected in May 2022 as part of a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) campaign targeting woodworking businesses due to the significant health risks associated with exposure to wood dust, including the risk of developing occupational asthma. During the visit the inspector identified multiple failings related to control of exposure to wood dust, including excessive levels of settled dust around the site (shown in the images below).

HSE has improved its guidance on managing health and safety and controlling risks for businesses.  

The improvements are based on research which showed businesses felt some guidance was: 

• hard to understand, making it time-consuming to find the area relevant to them​ 
• long and complex, leaving them uncertain that they had the full answer​ 

 A West London wholesale and distribution company has been fined more than £130,000 for failing to comply with health and safety rules at their warehouse in South Ruislip which caused significant harm to a visiting delivery driver. He was hit by a reversing forklift truck being operated by an employee of Davis & Dann Limited in the firm's car park and delivery area at the company's leased warehouse and distributing centre at Kanta House, Victoria Road on 8 June, 2020.  

Britain’s workplace regulator has just launched a podcast outlining seven principles to support disabled workers and those with long-term health conditions to thrive in the workplace.  Late last year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched new guidance on what employers can do to support staff.