What is the biggest health and safety fine in the UK this month?

In October 2026 City Electrical Factors Limited was fined £4 million at Birmingham Magistrates' Court after a worker was crushed by an unsecured 231kg switchboard during loading. HSE found there was no risk assessment or lift plan.

When do the new sexual harassment rules start?

From 30 October 2026, under the Employment Rights Act 2025, employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their staff, not just reasonable steps.

How many UK workers are affected by work related stress?

HSE figures for 2024/25 show about 964,000 workers in Great Britain suffering from work related stress, depression or anxiety, with an estimated 22.1 million working days lost.

UK health and safety news: October 2026 round up

October has been a busy month for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Courts handed out some very large fines, and two new campaigns landed. The common thread is one every employer can act on: most of these incidents happened because nobody assessed the risk or planned the job.

£4 million fine after an unplanned lift

On 16 October, City Electrical Factors Limited was fined £4 million at Birmingham Magistrates' Court. In October 2024 a worker acting as a spotter was crushed when a 231kg switchboard fell from a forklift while it was being loaded onto a lorry. He suffered brain and spine injuries and now needs care around the clock.

HSE found there was no risk assessment or lift plan for a task the site carried out regularly, and no instructions for staff. The load could have been secured to anchor points that already existed, or lifted with the lorry's own crane.

What to take from it: routine loading and unloading is one of the most dangerous jobs on any site. If a task happens every week, it needs a written risk assessment and a simple plan, not just experience.

Half a million pounds after lifting chains failed

On 20 October, Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited was fined £566,666 plus costs at Bristol Magistrates' Court. In 2021 a damaged lifting chain failed and a steel beam of around three tonnes fell into a bath of molten zinc. A 33 year old worker suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body.

The chains were damaged, had not been taken out of use and had missed their required inspection. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), lifting accessories such as chains and slings must be thoroughly examined at least every six months.

What to take from it: keep a register of lifting equipment with the date each item was last examined, and take anything damaged or overdue out of use straight away.

Director given a suspended prison sentence

On 15 October, a Paignton media company was fined £45,000 and its director received a 16 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. An employee filming a review was riding in the boot of a moving car when he fell onto the tarmac, suffering serious head injuries. No risk assessment had been done for the filming.

What to take from it: directors can be prosecuted personally under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. "It was only a quick job" is not a defence.

Fatal fall leads to £120,000 fine

On 2 October, an Oxfordshire construction company was fined £120,000 after a carpenter died falling through an unsafe opening on a first floor. HSE said the work had not been properly planned. Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of death at work in Great Britain.

New HSE campaign on noise and vibration

On 13 October HSE launched a campaign warning employers not to wait for symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus or hand arm vibration syndrome. HSE estimates around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by work each year, and that around one in five workers is exposed to harmful noise.

Employers are asked to follow three steps under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005:

Assess who is exposed and carry out a proper risk assessment.
Control exposure at source, for example with quieter or lower vibration tools and good maintenance.
Protect workers where risk remains, with hearing protection, health surveillance where required, and training.

Work related stress: 964,000 workers affected

For World Mental Health Day on 10 October, HSE reminded employers that stress, depression and anxiety caused by work affect around 964,000 workers and account for an estimated 22.1 million lost working days (2024/25). Employers have a legal duty to assess the risk of work related stress, just as they would any other hazard. HSE's free Working Minds campaign sets out five simple steps: reach out, recognise, respond, reflect and make it routine.

Coming up: tougher harassment rules from 30 October

From 30 October 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthens the duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. Employers will need to take all reasonable steps, rather than just reasonable steps, to prevent it. Now is a good time to review your policy, training and how staff can report concerns.

How MYRA helps

Every case above started with a missing risk assessment, a missed inspection or a job that was not planned. MYRA Compliance keeps your risk assessments, inspections, asset maintenance and training records in one place, with due dates in view, so the paperwork that protects your people is always up to date.

Find out more about everything MYRA Compliance can do.