News

As of 18th August, the HSE is carrying out a formal six-month public consultation on whether per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams should be restricted or potentially banned in Great Britain. The UK government is considering these measures because PFAS are persistent “forever chemicals” that can accumulate in the environment and pose risks to human health. HSE has published its scientific evidence and proposals and is inviting feedback from industry and other stakeholders before any restrictions are introduced…

The Building Safety Act, bought in in 2022 sought to deal with issues which led to the terrible event of the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017. Major changes were introduced, which were primarily aimed at making high risk buildings safer, but also affected a number of other areas including Building Regulations and accreditation scheme requirements. The new rules have meant an update to the Common Assessment Standard (CAS), which is used to set the requirements for accreditation schemes. Update 4.1,…

HCS Safety is thrilled to announce a fantastic set of results for our latest NEBOSH National Diploma group. A massive congratulations to all the students who have successfully completed element 2 of the course. Well-earned results through their hard work, dedication, and resilience over the past few months. This group, as is usually the case, was a special one. Varied experiences, industries and approaches to learning meant that there was never a boring day and there was always someone with…

The latest figures from the UKATA Asbestos Health Statistics, supported by figures from the HSE’s 2025 report, show an average of 13 people per day in Great Britain still die from asbestos-related diseases. That equates to approximately 5,000 lives lost each year, a tragic legacy of historic exposure that continues to cast a long shadow over the present. The Statistics: A Stark Reminder In 2023 alone, the UK recorded: 2,218 mesothelioma deaths, a cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.…

We are very happy to announce a change of ownership at HCS Safety.   As of April 2025, we are now 75% owned by the HCS Safety Employee Ownership Trust. These are exciting times for all of us as we welcome in a new era of employee ownership. We have always had a strong team ethos here at HCS Safety, but this is now made so much more real and we look forward to the future, of owning our own…

Work-related stress is no longer something optional to tackle—it has become a legal obligation, a business-critical issue, and a moral responsibility for employers in the UK. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 51% of all work-related ill health and over half of working days lost in recent years. What is Work-Related Stress? HSE defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them…