25.06.2026

The latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Business Plan reaffirms their commitment to reducing work related ill health through a proactive inspection campaign. 

Against a backdrop of worsening health outcomes and with poor workplace health showing up in lost output, reduced capacity, rising absence and tighter pressure on retention, this focus should not be unexpected.

Health - long considered the quieter counterpart to safety - is now firmly in the enforcement spotlight.

Where HSE is focusing its attention

The HSE is clear that enforcement will be targeted and intelligence-led, with inspections concentrated in sectors where risk and incidence are highest. 

From a manufacturing perspective three HSE health risk priorities stand out:

1. Noise 

Exposure to noise remains a persistent but often under-managed risk. The HSE will be checking that organisations have robust control measures in place and are meeting legal duties around monitoring and protection. 

2. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

MSDs continue to account for a significant proportion of work-related ill health cases, driven by manual handling, repetitive work and poor workstation design. 

Expect inspectors to focus on whether risks are properly assessed and whether preventative controls are embedded into day-to-day operations, not just documented.

3. Respiratory risks

Dust and airborne contaminants remain a major concern. The plan highlights targeted action on respiratory hazards, including exposure to hazardous dusts and substances, alongside industry-specific interventions such as controls for engineered stone and silica exposure. 

A more proactive, inspection-led approach

One of the clearest signals in the business plan is the scale of regulatory activity. The HSE is planning around 14,000 proactive inspections focused heavily on health risks. 

This is not reactive enforcement following incidents, it’s a deliberate shift towards prevention.

Alongside this, there is a continued emphasis on research, evidence-building and targeted campaigns, reinforcing that enforcement will be backed by clear expectations of what “good” looks like. 

What you need to do

1.    Review and reassess health risks

Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken to identify and evaluate risks to employee health arising from work activities. Risk assessments should be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to processes, equipment, personnel, or working conditions. For help, please see this blog post: Are your risk assessments suitable and sufficient?

2.    Implement and maintain effective control measures

Ensure that measures to prevent or adequately control health risks are:

  • Proportionate to the level of risk identified.
  • Properly implemented and maintained.
  • Clearly communicated to employees.
  • Subject to regular monitoring and review to verify their ongoing effectiveness.

Where reasonably practicable, priority should be given to eliminating risks at source before relying on administrative controls or personal protective equipment.

3.    Monitor health and review performance

Where appropriate, establish suitable arrangements for health surveillance and workplace monitoring. 

Health surveillance is a system of regular health checks used to identify early signs of work-related ill health. This enables action to be taken to reduce or stop further exposure and prove that you have the right controls in place. 

Get inspection ready

The HSE’s latest plan sends a clear message: workplace health is now a core enforcement priority.

If you need support getting inspection ready, please contact us - [email protected].