Lone workers can be at greater risk of harm as they may not have anyone to help or support them if things go wrong.
Employers must manage the risks to anyone working alone, including contractors and self-employed people.
HSE's lone working webpages have guidance on:
For further information you can:
A worker broke his back after falling approximately 8 feet through a barn roof.
The bricklayer was carrying out roof repairs and stepped on a polycarbonate roof sheet, falling to the concrete floor below.
HSE's investigation found that the company:
- did not complete a risk assessment
- failed to ensure that adequate measures were in place for workers when working at height
Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain. You can find guidance on how to prevent falls in our webpages on work at height.
Read more about the incident in our press release: Contractor fined after worker falls through roof.
For more health and safety stories visit our news centre, including:
If you are a building owner, landlord or work in building and allied trades, you must check what training is needed to be compliant with the law.
Every employer must make sure that anyone who is liable to disturb asbestos during their normal work (including supervisors) gets the correct level of training so they can work safely without risk to themselves or others.
Find out more about asbestos information, instruction and training.
Asbestos campaigns
HSE currently has 2 asbestos campaigns which offer practical guidance and support:
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Asbestos and You: This campaign includes our free-to-download 'Quick guide for trades' with practical guidance for tradespeople on common examples of asbestos and where it can be found
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Asbestos: Your Duty: Get guidance on legal duty for building owners, landlords and those responsible for maintenance and repair. Here you’ll find resources such as asbestos register and management plan templates
More asbestos guidance
There is more general guidance in our asbestos webpages.
HSE monitors and enforces legal requirements on the safety of most products used in the workplace, including any risks to health.
We have a duty to notify the Secretary of State about:
- unsafe or non-compliant products
- the measures taken and communicated by an economic operator
Products recalled or notified to HSE's Product Safety and Market Surveillance Unit, with a serious or high risk to the users, are published on GOV.UK's product recalls and alerts webpage.
Recent products notified are:
Find out more on HSE's role as a market surveillance authority.
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