Why health and safety mistakes can be costly
Did you know British businesses are fined an average of £44.1 million a year for health and safety breaches? That's according to HSE data obtained via a Freedom of Information request.
At first glance, the latest figures look encouraging. Total fines issued in 2025 fell to £40.9 million, down from £43.9 million the previous year. Dig a little deeper, however, and a different picture emerges.
Prosecutions rose from 428 cases in 2023 to 496 in 2025, suggesting enforcement activity remains strong and businesses are continuing to fall short of their legal obligations.
Construction remains firmly in the spotlight, accounting for 38% of all prosecutions last year. And while the overall value of fines may fluctuate from year to year, individual penalties can still be significant, with the largest fine in 2025 reaching £6 million.
Any suggestion that regulatory scrutiny is easing appears misplaced. If anything, the rising number of cases suggests regulators remain prepared to act where health and safety standards are not being met.
Workplace temperatures and employer responsibilities
Following this summer's heatwaves, the Government has asked the HSE to review whether existing workplace guidance on extreme temperatures remains fit for purpose.
Current regulations do not set a maximum workplace temperature. Instead, employers are required to maintain a "reasonable" indoor temperature and assess any associated risks. Unions have long argued for clearer thresholds, proposing limits of 30°C for most workplaces and 27°C where physical work is involved. Meanwhile, a public petition calling for a maximum limit of 25°C continues to gather support.
The HSE's review will focus on guidance underpinning the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The British Safety Council has also argued that any updated approach should address both heat and cold, with practical trigger points that help employers determine when action is needed.
For many organisations, the question should not be whether regulations change, but whether existing controls are adequate for increasingly frequent periods of extreme weather. Now is a sensible time to revisit heat-related risk assessments and response plans.
Managing the risks of lone working
When people work alone, small incidents can quickly become serious problems. Without colleagues nearby, delays in raising the alarm or receiving assistance can significantly increase the consequences of an accident, illness or emergency.
Employers have a duty to manage those risks, and that responsibility extends beyond direct employees. Contractors, agency workers and self-employed individuals working alone on your premises should also be considered as part of any risk assessment.
The HSE's guidance covers several key areas, including:
- Identifying and assessing lone-working risks
- Appropriate levels of supervision and support
- Training and emergency procedures
- Practical advice for lone workers themselves.
Whether your lone workers are on-site, travelling between locations or working outside normal hours, it's worth reviewing existing arrangements. As with many health and safety issues, the biggest risks often emerge when assumptions are made about what people will do if something goes wrong.
For more information, please visit the HSE website: Protecting lone workers: How to manage the risks of working alone - HSE
