Opinion

    Lesley Rudd ESF Headshots 268 Edit

    Battery Breakdown e-bike fire safety campaign: where are we two years on?

    The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill currently before Parliament offers the opportunity to reduce the fire risks posed by sub-standard e-bikes, e-scooters and their lithium-ion batteries, but the Government needs to go further and faster to protect public safety.

    By Lesley Rudd, Electrical Safety First on 03 July 2025

    David Sharp

    Managing the risks of digitalised working

    AI-powered systems, digitalisation and automation offer great potential for improving efficiency and driving innovation at work and in society, but digitalised work practices also pose a significant threat to employee wellbeing.

    By David Sharp, International Workplace on 04 June 2025

    Paddy Lillis Usdaw General Secretary

    Abuse of shopworkers continues to rise – more needs to be done

    Over half of retail workers have been threatened by a customer in the last 12 months.

    By Paddy Lillis, Usdaw union on 06 June 2025

    Cladding High Rise MED

    The building safety crisis: a year of Labour in power, still no end in sight for leaseholders

    It’s a year since Labour came to power with manifesto commitments to fix the failed approach to the cladding and building safety scandal and deliver meaningful change.

    By Campaign team, End Our Cladding Scandal on 01 July 2025

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    Rethinking workplace wellbeing for a new era

    Today’s workers increasingly value the flexibility to pick the most suitable working model for their needs – whether this be hybrid, fully remote or site-based. However, new BSI research shows a more important consideration is working for an organisation that genuinely prioritises employee wellbeing, offers development opportunities and encourages staff autonomy.

    By Kate Field, BSI on 16 June 2025

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    The great training gap: 2.4 billion reasons to rethink safety education

    In a world beset by change, uncertainty and unpredictability, the power of education to create safer and healthier workplaces remains a constant.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 10 June 2025

    4 Paulbw

    Work at height: never disregard the dangers

    I suffered devastating injuries in a totally preventable fall from height at work, and I’m passionate in encouraging all employers to do more to educate workers about the dangers of taking short-cuts with safety.

    By Paul Blanchard, Life After an Accident on 19 May 2025

    Neil Blacklock Photo

    Drones: flying high or greater depths?

    Drones are often used to avoid the need for humans to work at height, but they can also be used in certain dangerous confined spaces, such as silos, sewers and tanks, reducing the risk to workers.

    By Neil Blacklock, Rainham Industrial Services on 16 May 2025

    Mike Robinson 3 Med

    A false dichotomy: safety regulation vs. economic prosperity

    In recent months, political leaders around the world have rallied behind an all too familiar battle cry: seeking to slash “red tape” and unlock promised profits, productivity, and potential. This pledge for regulatory reduction perpetuates a dangerous and false dichotomy - that safety regulations and economic prosperity exist only in opposition to one another. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 02 May 2025

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    Ladder Association embarks on latest phase of market surveillance

    Research by the Ladder Association has repeatedly revealed serious concerns about the safety and quality of telescopic ladders sold in the UK via online marketplaces. Now, the Association is expanding its market surveillance, research and testing programme to cover ladders sold by physical stores, to both root out non-compliant ladders and identify those that are good quality and safe to use.

    By Peter Bennett OBE, Ladder Association on 01 May 2025