I really enjoyed the course!I was worried about doing the course online. But the booklet was very easy to follow and Alan Tonge did an excellent job in presenting.Overall I would recommend this course to anyone interested in health and safety!J.Cooper - Great Western Railway Swindon<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/courses/iosh-managing-safely">IOSH Managing Safely®</a>

Very good course and presenter

No Falls Week 2026 runs from 18 to 22 May. It is coordinated by the No Falls Foundation, the only UK charity dedicated exclusively to the work at height sector, and brings together organisations across every industry to focus on preventing falls in the workplace.Now in its third year, the campaign has grown substantially. More than 5000 organisations participated in 2025, and employers who register receive access to a practical toolkit of resources including toolbox talks, posters and case studies to support engagement during the week.The campaign is straightforward: falls from height remain the single biggest cause of work-related fatalities in Great Britain, and the majority are preventable. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 35 workers died following a fall from height in 2024/25, representing 28 percent of all work-related deaths in that period. That proportion has been broadly elevated for years.But falls from height represent only part of the picture. Slips, trips and falls on the same level, while rarely fatal, account for the single largest category of non-fatal workplace injuries across Great Britain. Together, the two categories affect workers in every sector, at every level of seniority, and in workplaces as varied as hospital wards, construction sites, warehouse floors and retail environments.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2></h2><h2 id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292" data-toc-id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292">Falls from height compared to other causes of fatal injuries</h2>Of the 124 workers killed in work-related accidents in 2024/25, falls from height caused more deaths than any other single mechanism. The breakdown of the leading fatal accident types is as follows:<ul><li>Falls from a height: 35 deaths</li><li>Struck by a moving object: 18 deaths</li><li>Trapped by something collapsing or overturning: 17 deaths</li><li>Struck by a moving vehicle: 14 deaths</li><li>Contact with moving machinery: 13 deaths</li></ul>Falls from height accounted for more than twice as many fatalities as being struck by a moving vehicle and nearly three times as many as contact with moving machinery. Despite decades of regulatory development and technological improvement in fall protection, the category remains dominant.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79" data-toc-id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79">Slips, Trips and Falls: The non-fatal injury picture</h2>While falls from height dominate the fatality figures, slips, trips and falls on the same level are the leading driver of non-fatal workplace injuries. According to employer-reported RIDDOR data for 2024/25, this category accounts for 30 percent of all reported non-fatal injuries, more than any other single cause. Handling, lifting and carrying injuries come second at 17 percent, followed by being struck by a moving object at 10 percent, acts of violence at 10 percent and falls from a height at 8 percent.It is important to note that the HSE acknowledges employer-reported RIDDOR figures capture only approximately half of all qualifying non-fatal injuries. The true number of workers injured through slips, trips and falls is therefore likely to be considerably higher than formally recorded figures suggest.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="6e2cb710-4db1-4fcd-8c14-da4ddfb10245" data-toc-id="6e2cb710-4db1-4fcd-8c14-da4ddfb10245">The sectors most impacted</h2>Falls and slip and trip incidents do not affect all industries equally. The HSE's sector-level analysis for 2024/25 identifies the following industries as having statistically higher-than-average rates of non-fatal workplace injury:<ul><li>Accommodation and food services, which recorded the highest non-fatal injury rate of any sector in 2024/25</li><li>Construction</li><li>Transportation and storage</li><li>Wholesale and retail trade</li></ul>Construction carries the highest concentration of fatal risk. The sector recorded 35 worker fatalities in 2024/25, more than any other industry, driven significantly by the frequency of work at height across site operations. Agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded 23 fatalities over the same period, the second highest of any sector, reflecting the combination of elevated work, machinery hazards and often remote, uncontrolled environments.The picture differs significantly outside these traditionally high-risk environments. In health and social care, slips, trips and falls on the same level account for approximately half of all reported major injuries to employees, making the category one of the most significant causes of serious workplace harm in a sector not typically associated with falls risk.The implication for non-construction employers is clear. The absence of scaffolding or ladders from your workplace does not mean there’s no chance of a fall. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and obstructed walkways present genuine hazards to workers in offices, retail environments, healthcare settings and hospitality venues alike.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4" data-toc-id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4">Economic and productivity cost</h2>The financial consequences of workplace injury are significant and are consistently underestimated by employers. Across all causes of work-related injury and ill health, the total annual cost to Great Britain was estimated at £22.9 billion in 2023/24. Of that, £4.3 billion is borne directly by employers, in the form of lost productivity, sick pay, staff cover, administrative burden and, in serious cases, legal costs and regulatory action.In 2024/25, non-fatal workplace injuries alone accounted for 4.4 million lost working days. The average injury results in 6.5 days away from work. For smaller businesses in particular, a handful of incidents within a single year can have a material impact on operational capacity and payroll.In relation to slips and trips specifically, the HSE has estimated the cost to employers at approximately £512 million per year in lost production and associated costs. This figure originates from earlier research and should be treated as a conservative historical baseline rather than a current measurement. It nonetheless illustrates the scale of financial exposure attached to incidents that many employers are inclined to dismiss as minor.These costs do not accumulate solely from serious or reportable incidents. A worker who takes a week off following a trip over a trailing cable, a member of staff who sustains a soft tissue injury after slipping on a wet floor or a near-miss that goes unreported but signals an unaddressed hazard: each carries financial, legal and reputational implications for the employer.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75" data-toc-id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75">What can you do?</h2>Understanding the risks is only part of the responsibility. Ensuring your workforce has the knowledge and competence to act on them is where training becomes essential.SSG offers two e-learning courses directly relevant to the risks covered in this article. For same-level slip and trip risks, our Slips and Trips Awareness course covers causes, legal duties, control measures and risk assessment principles. For work at height, our Working Safely at Heights Awareness course covers hazard identification, the hierarchy of control, legal duties and safe use of access equipment.Slips and Trips e-learning - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="http://www.ssg.co.uk/courses/slips-and-trips-awareness-e-learning-with-SSG">www.ssg.co.uk/courses/slips-and-trips-awareness-e-learning-with-SSG</a>Working Safely at Heights e-learning - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="http://www.ssg.co.uk/courses/WSAH-e-learning">www.ssg.co.uk/courses/WSAH-e-learning</a><div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb" data-toc-id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb">How SSG can support your business</h2>We support businesses in managing occupational health and workplace safety risks through practical training, consultancy and compliance support.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/contact">Get in touch with our team to find out more.</a>

Our latest article explores the scale of fall-related injuries across UK workplaces, how the numbers compare to other causes of harm, and what the financial and productivity cost looks like.

No Falls Week 2026: What the statistics tell us

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new <a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/stonemasonry/working-engineered-stone-control-silica-risk.htm">guidance</a> aimed at protecting workers from the dangers of engineered stone dust exposure, following growing concerns around cases of silicosis linked to stone fabrication and processing.The updated guidance makes clear that dry cutting of engineered stone is now considered “unacceptable”, with water suppression techniques expected to be used to meet legal requirements under COSHH regulations.The announcement marks one of the HSE’s most significant interventions in the sector to date and will be backed by a nationwide inspection programme, with more than 1,000 workplace inspections planned across Great Britain over the next 12 months.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2></h2><h2 id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292" data-toc-id="8f859492-db94-4cd9-a6e6-ce05421ac292">Why engineered stone dusk is a serious risk</h2>Engineered stone, commonly used in kitchen and bathroom worktops, can contain up to 95% crystalline silica. When materials are cut, polished or processed, fine respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust can become airborne and inhaled by workers.Exposure to silica dust can lead to serious and irreversible health conditions including:<ul><li>Silicosis</li><li>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</li><li>Lung cancer</li><li>Kidney disease</li></ul>Unlike traditional stone-related illnesses that may take decades to develop, recent cases linked to engineered stone have shown workers developing silicosis within months or years of exposure.Silicosis is incurable - but entirely preventable.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79" data-toc-id="c1faebd1-544d-4333-883c-ad7c7b12cb79">What the HSE guidance says</h2>Following two years of research and industry engagement, the HSE has introduced dedicated COSHH guidance specifically for engineered stone processing.The guidance outlines several key expectations for employers, including:<ul><li>Eliminating dry cutting methods</li><li>Using on-tool water suppression systems</li><li>Selecting lower silica-content engineered stone where possible</li><li>Providing suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)</li><li>Carrying out regular health surveillance</li><li>Ensuring employees receive adequate information, instruction and training</li></ul>The HSE’s research found that dry fabrication methods can expose workers to silica dust levels five to ten times higher than equivalent wet cutting processes.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4" data-toc-id="e8885067-7a1c-42ed-a83f-52f2afa2f5d4">Increased enforcement activity</h2>The HSE has confirmed that inspectors are already carrying out visits to fabricators and businesses working with engineered stone materials.Businesses failing to implement suitable controls may face enforcement action.<figure data-type="blockquoteFigure"><div><blockquote>“Silicosis is incurable, but it is entirely preventable. No worker should lose their life to a lung disease caused by their job.”</blockquote><figcaption>Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director in HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division</figcaption></div></figure>The HSE has also stressed that businesses cutting corners not only place workers at risk but also undermine companies investing in proper health and safety standards.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75" data-toc-id="4f31cd46-5c2c-40f1-b75d-72772aac7f75">More than compliance</h2>While the guidance focuses heavily on engineering controls and safer working methods, it also highlights the importance of workplace culture, awareness and proactive risk management.Employers should now be reviewing:<ul><li>Dust control measures</li><li>COSHH assessments</li><li>RPE suitability and face fit testing</li><li>Worker training and awareness</li><li>Health surveillance arrangements</li><li>Maintenance and inspection processes</li></ul>The new guidance highlights how occupational health risks can develop gradually and without obvious warning signs, reinforcing the importance of proactive prevention and early intervention.It also brings renewed focus to employers’ wider legal responsibilities under health and safety law. Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer must appoint one or more competent persons to support health and safety compliance - regardless of business size.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb" data-toc-id="9058871d-f7e0-4cea-9138-5cc626dd7dbb">How SSG can support your business</h2>We support businesses in managing occupational health and workplace safety risks through practical training, consultancy and compliance support.Our services include:<ul><li>COSHH training and support</li><li>Occupational health awareness</li><li>Health and safety consultancy</li><li>Risk assessments and safe systems of work</li><li>Workplace compliance training</li><li>Respiratory protective equipment awareness and Face fit courses</li></ul>If your business works with engineered stone, silica-containing materials or dust-generating processes, now is the time to review your controls and ensure your teams are protected.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/contact">Get in touch with our team to find out more.</a>

New HSE guidance on engineered stone dust highlights the dangers of silica exposure, bans dry cutting methods, and reinforces COSHH requirements to help prevent silicosis and improve workplace safety.

Engineered Stone Dust: What the new HSE guidance means for businesses and worker safety

Every year on 28 April, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work shines a spotlight on a simple but critical message: safety at work is not optional - it’s fundamental.While World Health Day focuses on overall wellbeing, this day brings that message firmly into the workplace, reminding businesses that health and safety are shared responsibilities that require consistent action, not just awareness.For organisations across the UK, particularly those operating in higher-risk environments, it’s a moment to ask an important question:<figure data-type="blockquoteFigure"><div><blockquote>Are we doing enough to protect our people every day?</blockquote><figcaption></figcaption></div></figure><div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="89a35f13-6ce7-49fd-9e40-78dbc72b04b4" data-toc-id="89a35f13-6ce7-49fd-9e40-78dbc72b04b4">From awareness to accountability</h2>If World Health Day is about understanding risk, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is about managing it.It’s about turning awareness into clear processes, strong leadership and practical action.Workplace safety is not just about policies or paperwork, it’s about:<ul><li>How risks are identified and controlled</li><li>How teams are trained and supported</li><li>How leaders set expectations and lead by example</li></ul>Ultimately, it’s about creating an environment where safety is built into daily operations, not revisited only when something goes wrong.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="62722e46-f467-4b07-b677-9970a1386384" data-toc-id="62722e46-f467-4b07-b677-9970a1386384">The gap between compliance and culture</h2>Most businesses understand their legal obligations. They complete risk assessments, deliver training and maintain documentation - but compliance alone doesn’t guarantee a safe workplace. The real difference lies in culture.A strong health and safety culture means:<ul><li>Employees feel confident to speak up about risks</li><li>Managers actively reinforce safe behaviours</li><li>Training is practical, relevant and ongoing</li><li>Safety is considered in every decision, not just audits</li></ul>Bridging the gap between compliance and culture is where many organisations see the biggest improvements in safety performance.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="94fcb28f-7923-4584-8ed7-e8f8845e4309" data-toc-id="94fcb28f-7923-4584-8ed7-e8f8845e4309">Why consistency matters</h2>Unlike one-off hazards, workplace risks are constantly evolving. New projects, changing teams, and increased workloads, especially during busy periods, can introduce new challenges. This is why health and safety management must be continuous.Key areas to regularly review include:<ul><li>Training and competency - Are employees up to date and confident?</li><li>Risk assessments - Do they reflect current working conditions?</li><li>Policies and procedures - Are they practical and being followed?</li><li>Incident response - Are lessons being learned and shared?</li></ul>Consistency in these areas helps prevent incidents and builds long-term resilience.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="d19120b5-9da4-4c64-ae9a-a11a0e87dc0d" data-toc-id="d19120b5-9da4-4c64-ae9a-a11a0e87dc0d">Bringing safety, training and support together</h2>Effective workplace safety doesn’t sit in isolation - it relies on a combination of training, consultancy and ongoing support.Businesses often benefit from:<ul><li>Health and safety training to build awareness and competence</li><li>Consultancy support for audits, investigations and risk management</li><li>Retained advisory services to guide day-to-day decision-making</li><li>Support in demonstrating compliance and best practice</li></ul>When these elements work together, organisations move beyond simply meeting requirements - they create safer, more confident workplaces.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="5b2f3825-8aab-4bb4-b861-8ae41ac7d5fd" data-toc-id="5b2f3825-8aab-4bb4-b861-8ae41ac7d5fd">A practical moment to reflect</h2>The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an opportunity to pause and take stock. Not just of what’s in place, but how effective it really is.Ask yourself:<ul><li>Are we confident in our current approach to workplace safety?</li><li>Do our teams understand their responsibilities?</li><li>Are we preventing risks, or reacting to them?</li></ul>These are the questions that turn awareness into meaningful improvement.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="cd2794ee-ec5c-40b4-9c5f-ec518801b9bf" data-toc-id="cd2794ee-ec5c-40b4-9c5f-ec518801b9bf">Building safer workplaces, every day</h2>Workplace safety is not defined by a single day - it’s shaped by the actions taken every day that follows.By investing in health and safety training, consultancy and proactive risk management, businesses can protect their people, strengthen compliance and improve performance - because when safety becomes part of your culture, it doesn’t just reduce risk, it creates a stronger, more resilient organisation.<div data-type="horizontalRule"><hr></div><h2 id="4254409f-8dcb-4ed4-815b-512d0404d5bc" data-toc-id="4254409f-8dcb-4ed4-815b-512d0404d5bc">Need support with your workplace safety approach?</h2>Whether you need practical training, expert consultancy, retained advisory support, or help demonstrating your compliance credentials, we help businesses bring training, compliance and expert support together - so you can move beyond box-ticking and build a safer workplace.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.ssg.co.uk/contact">Get in touch with our team to find out more.</a>

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a reminder that safety goes beyond compliance, it’s about building a culture that protects your people every day.