A recent high-profile incident where hospital doctors were allegedly assaulted by a well-known politician in Maharashtra has prompted renewed calls for tougher sentences for those who attack healthcare workers, but some hospitals are already taking steps to defuse aggressive behaviour by patients and their families by rolling out communication skills training for medical teams
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 14 August 2026
Another spate of fatal fires in unsafe urban buildings has again highlighted failures by India’s authorities to clamp down on illegally constructed commercial buildings. However, commentators say a recent Supreme Court warning that local authority officials may be held personally liable for failing to close unsafe establishments offers hope that more effective enforcement will drive down the number of devastating blazes
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 14 August 2026
New Year’s resolutions get all the glory, but the quiet summer lull is secretly the best time for a reset. Before the September rush hits and work resumes at full speed, why not test out a few new skills? As part of our summer special, we look at how two evidence-based psychological tools can help safety professionals sharpen their communication, win over colleagues, and begin to drive lasting change.
By Belinda Liversedge on 30 July 2026
With the UK Government confirming that mandatory competence requirements for fire risk assessors will be introduced, and independently verified by UKAS-accredited certification bodies, it is vital that fire risk assessors and those commissioning assessments begin pursuing the relevant qualifications and certifications now.
By Jess Mullis, Fire Protection Association on 01 September 2026
The new building safety regime aims to improve the competence of everyone working in the built environment, and two new guidance documents seek to support this by setting out how organisations such as construction contractors can demonstrate their staff and supply chain are competent to deliver the work the organisation is appointed to do.
By Sofie Hooper, Association for Project Safety & Anthony Taylor, Resolve Risk Ltd on 31 August 2026
Third-party certification of fire doors provides robust evidence of performance and traceability to aid compliance with the ‘golden thread’ of information required for higher-risk buildings post-Grenfell. New research reveals that while more professionals responsible for specifying fire doors recognise the value of third-party-certified fire doors and traceability, gaps in specification and in understanding of how to check the competence of installers remain.
By Helen Hewitt, British Woodworking Federation (BWF) on 31 August 2026
Hot reads – beat the heat while turning up the temperature on your occupational health and safety expertise. Here are six standout reads for your summer hols that promise to fire up your OSH strategy when you return to work.
By British Safety Council on 17 August 2026
Another spate of fatal fires in unsafe urban buildings has again highlighted failures by India’s authorities to clamp down on illegally constructed commercial buildings. However, commentators say a recent Supreme Court warning that local authority officials may be held personally liable for failing to close unsafe establishments offers hope that more effective enforcement will drive down the number of devastating blazes
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 14 August 2026
A recent high-profile incident where hospital doctors were allegedly assaulted by a well-known politician in Maharashtra has prompted renewed calls for tougher sentences for those who attack healthcare workers, but some hospitals are already taking steps to defuse aggressive behaviour by patients and their families by rolling out communication skills training for medical teams
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 14 August 2026
Almost three years after the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) began to oversee a new approach to the design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings in England, the BSR continues to improve processes to ensure more efficient and faster approval of all building work applications within scope of the higher-risk regime.
By John Palmer, Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on 04 August 2026
The internal environmental quality of a building has been shown to positively or negatively affect the physical and mental health of occupants like workers and visitors. For employers wishing to ensure buildings support occupant health and resilience, while simultaneously achieving sustainability goals like net zero carbon, the BREAM standards provide independent, third-party assurance that an asset is achieving the highest possible performance in these and other related areas.
By Anna Buchanan and Chetas Rana, BRE on 30 July 2026
New research from Dräger suggests a significant proportion of workers feel increasingly afraid to speak up about safety problems at work, making it more important than ever that leaders create the psychological conditions that enable workers to report concerns, make suggestions and challenge the status quo without fear of rejection or retribution.
By Adam Pope, Draeger Safety UK on 30 July 2026
PPE designed to protect against hazards like chemicals can contribute to an increase in body heat and humidity inside the clothing, placing the wearer at increased risk of heat stress. However, advances in materials science, physiological modelling and testing methodologies mean employers can now make more informed decisions about how effectively protective garments support heat dissipation and moisture management – in turn potentially boosting PPE wear rates and wearer acceptance.
By Chloé Caux-Wetherell and Aldjia Begriche, DuPont Personal Protection on 30 July 2026
