Workplace Deaths in Britain 2025/26: What HSE’s New Figures Actually Show
HSE recorded 126 worker deaths in 2025/26 — the lowest outside pandemic years. Our analysis of who died, how, and why the headline number understates it.
In-depth UK guides on NEBOSH, IOSH, CDM, COSHH, working at height, risk assessment, permit-to-work systems and more — written by qualified safety practitioners and updated for 2026.
HSE recorded 126 worker deaths in 2025/26 — the lowest outside pandemic years. Our analysis of who died, how, and why the headline number understates it.
What changed in the NEBOSH General Certificate from February 2026: GNC1 and GNC2 unit renames, the new points-based GNC2 marking, and what stays the same.
AFFF fire extinguisher ban UK: PFOA foam banned from 4 July 2025, PFHxA in HSE REACH consultation. What duty-holders must do in 2026.
Free UK risk assessment template in Word, Excel and PDF. Aligned with the HSE 5-step method. Ready to adapt to your workplace. No signup required.
Fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Order 2005: who needs one, the 5 steps, the Responsible Person, competence and enforcement.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 explained: employer duties, the TILE assessment, weight limits, training requirements and HSE enforcement.
Risk assessments explained: HSE 5-step method, examples, when to review, suitable and sufficient. The UK guide for H&S managers and employers.
HSE annual workplace injury and ill-health statistics — fatal injuries, RIDDOR-reportable injuries, work-related stress, MSDs, sectoral breakdown, what the trends mean for UK employers. Updated annually.
DSEAR 2002 explained — what it requires, hazardous area zoning (Zones 0/1/2 gas, 20/21/22 dust), ATEX equipment, and where compliance most often fails. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What UK employers must do about workplace stress — under HSWA 1974, MHSWR 1999, the Equality Act 2010, and the HSE Management Standards. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
Slips, trips and falls cause around 30% of all reported workplace injuries in the UK. What the regulations require, where compliance fails, and the controls that actually work. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
ISO 45001 explained for UK employers — the 10 clauses, the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, leadership and worker participation duties, the relationship with HSWA 1974 and MHSWR, and the certification process from gap analysis through Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
LOLER 1998 explained for UK dutyholders — what counts as lifting equipment, planning of lifting operations, the 6/12/24-month thorough examination intervals, the competent person duty, and how LOLER fits with PUWER 1998.
PUWER 1998 explained for UK employers — what equipment is covered, the duties on suitability, maintenance, inspection and training, the dangerous-parts hierarchy in Reg 11(2), and how PUWER sits alongside LOLER and HSWA 1974.
The hierarchy of control explained for UK risk assessors — Eliminate, Substitute, Engineering, Administrative, PPE — with worked examples, MHSWR Schedule 1 origin, and the ISO 45001 simplified version used on NEBOSH courses.
What goes into the cost of the NEBOSH National Diploma — tuition, exam fees, employer funding routes, ROI considerations, and how to compare quotes between providers. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner since 2019.
Does IOSH expire? How long IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely last, when refresher training is needed, and what UK employers expect. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner status means, how it differs from Silver and Bronze, what it tells you about quality, and why it matters when choosing a provider. From a Gold Learning Partner since 2019.
What the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is, what it does, its enforcement powers, the difference between HSE and the Act, and where it sits in UK regulatory architecture. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires of UK businesses, the duty of care for waste, integrated pollution control, statutory nuisance, and how it sits alongside later environmental regulation.
What MHSWR 1999 requires of UK employers — risk assessment, competent persons, training, emergency procedures, and the management arrangements that make HSWA 1974 work in practice. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires of UK employers and employees, the duties it creates, and how it connects to MHSWR, COSHH, CDM and the wider regulatory framework. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management covers, who it's for, and how it builds competence for high-hazard industries.
What the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety covers, what it qualifies you to do, and how it fits with the Fire Safety Order 2005 and post-Grenfell legislation.
NEBOSH Construction Certificate guide (UK 2026): CN1 syllabus, CDM 2015 duties, 48-hour open-book assessment, careers. NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
How to qualify as a fire risk assessor in the UK in 2026 — qualifications, register membership, salary, and the realistic path in. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
What the UK Working at Height Regulations 2005 require, the avoid–prevent–mitigate hierarchy, and what counts as height. Plain-English UK guide.
What the UK Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require, the TILE assessment, and how to comply. Plain-English guide for UK employers.
What the UK COSHH Regulations 2002 actually require, who they apply to, and how to comply. Plain-English guide from a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
The HSE 5 steps to risk assessment explained for UK workplaces: INDG163 framework, worked examples, the hierarchy of control, and what HSE inspectors look for.
How to write a driving for work policy that meets HSWA 1974, MHSWR 1999 and Road Traffic Act duties. Grey fleet risk and a nine-section policy
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 explained: three trigger levels, five duties, the hierarchy of control, and the 2008 music and entertainment extension.
The DSE Regulations 1992 explained for hybrid workplaces. User and operator definitions, five core duties, and what HSE’s 2022 confirmation means for home setups.
The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 explained: two-part definition, five specified risks, three core duties, atmospheric hazards and competence levels.
How permit to work systems control high-risk tasks in the UK. Seven-step lifecycle, three roles, common failure patterns and how to fix them.
What UK employers must do about mental health at work — legal duties, risk assessment, reasonable adjustments, training, and where MHFA fits in.
What the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require — duty to manage, types of work, training categories, and the survey rules
What UK PPE regulations require — employer duties, the 2022 update covering limb (b) workers, hierarchy of control, and free PPE rules.
What a toolbox talk is, how to deliver one effectively, and what topics UK construction and industrial sites should cover.
How to write a lone worker policy and lone working risk assessment for UK workplaces
What a method statement is, what it should contain, when it's needed, and how it differs from a risk assessment. UK guide for contractors and site managers.
What fire marshals/wardens actually do in UK workplaces, how many you need, what training they require, and what their legal duties.
What the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires, who the Responsible Person is, and how to comply. Updated for the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022.
What CDM 2015 requires — duty holders, when it applies, the documents you need, and what catches projects out.
What RIDDOR is, what must be reported, who reports, and the 10 and 15 day deadlines that catch employers out.
How CSCS cards relate to health and safety qualifications — what each card requires, where NEBOSH and IOSH fit in, and what construction workers and managers actually need.
The NEBOSH Diploma is a serious investment of time and money. Here's an honest answer to whether it's worth it — including when it's not.
What it takes to become a health and safety officer in the UK in 2026 — qualifications, salary, day-to-day work and the realistic path in. From a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner.
NEBOSH is the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. Discover what it means, courses available, and which fits you.
What the NEBOSH closing interview is, what questions you'll be asked and how to prepare. Honest guidance from a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner
What the NEBOSH NG1 open book exam actually tests, how to structure your answers, and how to avoid the mistakes that fail most candidates.
Full breakdown of the IOSH Working Safely exam — the 20-min MCQ, the 10-min hazard spot, the 80% pass mark, typical pass rate, and how to prepare.
Virtual classroom or trainer at your premises? Compare cost, logistics, and learning outcomes of the two most common IOSH delivery formats.
Confused between IOSH Working Safely and Managing Safely? Compare duration, audience, syllabus and cost — decide which course your team needs in 5 minutes.
The full IOSH Working Safely syllabus walked through module by module. What's covered, how long each takes, and what delegates actually walk out knowing.
Home›BlogInsights & GuidesHealth & safety training insights, guides & regulationsIn-depth UK guides on NEBOSH, IOSH, CDM, COSHH, working at height, risk assessment, permit-to-work systems and more — written by qualified safety practitioners and updated for 2026.In-depth, practical guidesWritten by CMIOSH-grade practitionersReviewed & updated for 2026 How to Stay Safe Over the Festive […]
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Our guides are written by the same CMIOSH-grade team that delivers KeyOstas accredited courses and health & safety consultancy across the UK.