HSE released data on 9th July for the year 2020/21 showing that there had been one hundred and forty-two workplace fatalities in Great Britain.  This is an increase of twenty-nine over the previous year, though the number of deaths in 2019/20 (113) was low compared with other recent years.  The three most common causes of fatal injuries continue to be workers falling from height, being struck by a moving vehicle and being struck by a moving object.  30% of fatal injuries involved persons aged sixty or over, though this age group only makes up around 11% of the workforce.  Members of the public continue to be killed in connection with work-related incidents. In 2020/21 sixty such fatalities were recorded.

An updated version (1.1) of GPP21 – Guidance for Pollution Prevention for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – has been published, June 2021, and has been uploaded to the Simplifi website. There seems little change from the previous version.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a revised HSG248 – “Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide”. This guidance is for analysts involved in asbestos work. It is the authoritative source of asbestos analytical procedures within Great Britain. The guidance has been updated to take account of findings from interventions and developments in analytical procedures and methodology. It provides clarification on technical and personal safety issues, especially in relation to sampling and 4-stage clearances. New information on sampling soils for asbestos is included.