Asbestos rule change 2026: what it means for small trade firms
HSE has tightened the asbestos rules. Most of it is not aimed at small trades, but your duties before drilling are. Here is what to check today.
News and guidance
Health and safety, explained for UK employers
Plain-English guidance on the duties that matter — RIDDOR, COSHH, RAMS and CDM 2015 — with links to the law and HSE guidance behind every point.
Toolbox talks that count as evidence: what to do and what to keep
Toolbox talks that count as evidence? A signed sheet alone won’t do it. How to run a short talk that works and what records are worth keeping.
Manual handling assessments: cut the lifting, not just bend your knees
What a manual handling assessment needs: avoid, assess, reduce, and the four factors to check. Practical steps to cut lifting in a small firm.
Working at height for roofers and scaffolders: the hierarchy, not just harnesses
Roofers and scaffolders: what the Work at Height Regulations ask for, why the harness comes last, and the records worth keeping.
PUWER for small workshops: guarding, inspections and training records that stand up
PUWER explained for small workshops: guarding in the right order, sensible inspections and training records that stand up to an audit.
Your health and safety policy in plain English: statement, responsibilities and arrangements
What goes in a small firm’s written H&S policy: the statement of intent, responsibilities and arrangements.
COSHH for cleaning companies: why the data sheet folder isn’t your assessment
COSHH for cleaning firms in plain English: why safety data sheets aren’t an assessment, what to write down, and what training staff need.
The accident book and RIDDOR: what to record, what to report, and the over-7-day clock
Accident book or RIDDOR report? A plain-English guide for small UK firms on what you record, what you report to the HSE, and the deadlines.
Welding fume: why the fan in the roof isn't fooling anyone
All welding fumes can cause lung cancer. A plain-English guide to the LEV, RPE and COSHH records HSE expects from small fabrication firms.
HSEQ Should Not Be Complicated – It Should Help You Run a Better Business
Why businesses across the UK need a simpler way to manage Health, Safety, Environment and Quality