Sept 2026
Newsletter September 2026
Welcome to Septembers newsletter. Each month we bring you key legal developments, incident trends and enforcement action to help you stay compliant and protect your people.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Septembers newsletter.
Each month we bring you key legal developments, incident trends and enforcement action to help you stay compliant and protect your people.
Do you have anything specific you would like to find out more about - please let us know!
If you need support or practice guidance on implementing any of the topics below, keeping your place of work safe then our team at HSE Advisor Ltd is always here to help.
Email us at: info@hseadvisor.co.uk
£1.2 million fine for wall collapse
Network Rail has pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence in connection with a wall collapse which caused serious injuries to an 81-year-old man.
The boundary wall at Rugby railway station collapsed without warning as the wall had slipped from the inspection list due to confusion over its ownership. In court the company was fined £1.2 million.
Wildfires more frequent than ever before
Data confirms that firefighters in England and Wales responded to 716 wildfires in the year to 29th July, which is as many as occurred in three years previously. July alone had 393 wildfire attendances. The norm is around 200 per year.
A ban on the sale of disposable barbeques is in force. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-guidelines-on-disposable-bbqs
Step ladder collapsed
A condemned step ladder, left in use, has resulted in a serious fall and the prosecution of the man’s employer, Wirral Council.
Wirral MBC pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was ordered to pay £10000 in fines and costs.
The Treasury at fault over employee’s suicide
A coroner has concluded that The Treasury, materially contributed to the suicide of Chloe Moffat. The 26-year-old employee had been called into a 1-2-1 meeting to find that without warning, there was a senior manager present and she was accused of sharing confidential information. In-house disciplinary policy was not followed and she was immediately left fearing for her future in the job despite that the likely outcome would have been a written warning.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgje066zd63o
Restaurant owner fined over fire safety breaches
A restaurant owner who was caught renting out unsafe rooms on a short term letting basis has been prosecuted. The rooms at the Hertfordshire premises were at risk of fire spread, inadequate escape routes and a lack of a warning system.
In court, Moynul Abedin was handed a suspended prison sentence. A confiscation order is being sought to reclaim money he gained through the activity.
Disclosure and Barring Service – guidance update
Employers who access the government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) should be aware that guidance has been updated:
Do you hire mobile cranes?
The Construction Plant-hire Association has updated its guidance which helps those who hire cranes, to ensure that they understand how to ensure the supplier is competent.
Fall through roof light holes
Lowndes Lumb Construction has been fined £60,000 after a worker fell through an unprotected roof light and was seriously injured.
There were no measures to avoid falls from height, e.g. scaffolding, guard rails, an internal crash deck or harness systems.
In court the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3), the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was ordered to pay £6,070 costs.
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/08/06/construction-company-fined-60000-after-worker-seriously-injured/
Faulty construction led to floor collapse
An Oldham construction firm has been prosecuted after a floor collapsed beneath a worker, causing him to fall to the ground along with blocks and the floor materials. He suffered multiple fractures.
(Photo: HSE)
When constructing the floor, the design had not been followed and it was also overloaded with blocks. Once the accident was investigated inspectors found various other concerns such as unsafe work at height, no training for site management and a lack of fire alarms.
Oldham Business and Construction Management Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1), Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £30,000 plus costs of £4,883.
Telehandler operator held accountable
A telehandler driver has been sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, fined £800 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.
The case was heard after Michael Nixon reversed over and killed a colleague on a construction site. The court heard that there was no need to reverse as this had been designed out by the provision of a turning circle. He had also been seen using a mobile phone when driving which was contrary to the site safety rules he had signed.
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/08/18/telehandler-driver-sentenced-over-death-of-colleague/
Safety device was defeated
A fish processing company has been fined £451,500 after a supervisor was crushed when inside an enclosure where he should not have been. The area had an interlocked gate, but after it was damaged and would no longer open, staff created a different way in, by removing a fence panel. This also meant that power was not isolated when working in the dangerous zone to clear frequent blockages.
Pelagia Shetland Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 11(1) and (2), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Company found not liable for fatal road accident in a storm
Traffic control firm, Hooke Highways, has been cleared of responsibility for a fatal crash when a tree fell on a van driven by its workers. The accident occurred during a named storm in 2022, and Jack Bristow’s parents sued his employer for breaching its duty of care by sending him out during a red weather warning for extremely strong winds.
However due to there being no travel ban in force the judge found that the accident was not reasonably foreseeable.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylxpzxyr4o
Manufacturer fined twice in a year
Reflex Flexible Packaging Limited has been prosecuted after an employee was caught in powered rollers. The accident happened due to unsafe cleaning practices involving the rollers being moved under power. The firm was also prosecuted in November 2025 over the death of an employee who was trapped in an unguarded machine.
Rag caught in the rollers (HSE)
Inspectors found that the cleaning activity did not have a risk assessment and there was room for improvement in guarding, signage and training.
The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £4,464 in costs.
Builders created gas danger
A Yorkshire builder has been prosecuted after building an extension over a gas flue, placing the occupants at serious risk. The offence was made worse by the fact that the company had been warned by Building Control beforehand. In court, both the company and its owner were fined.
Sawmills had no fit test for respirators
Despite there not having been an accident, Truro Sawmills Ltd has been fined £20,000 for non-compliance with Improvement Notices issued by the HSE.
The main concerns were that there had not been face-fit testing to ensure that respiratory protective equipment would provide the protection specified. There was also no health surveillance programme and a lack of training for those operating fork lift trucks.
Heavy machine fell from forks
Manufacturer, Micro Spring and Presswork Company Limited, has been prosecuted after a 500Kg pillar drill which was being moved became unstable and fell in transit. An employee fractured twelve ribs during the incident.
(Photo: HSE)
It was found that the company had not undertaken a risk assessment, nor written a lifting plan. In court it pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £5032 in costs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s update.
If you need support with policies, training, audits, risk assessments, or anything else please get in touch with HSE Advisor Ltd.
Stay safe,
The HSE Advisor Ltd Team