Major Health and Safety Reforms Take Effect Across UK and Ireland

Employers across the UK and Ireland are navigating a landscape of significant health and safety legislative changes and guidance updates throughout 2026. These reforms underscore a growing commitment to protecting workers from both physical and psychological hazards, with new regulations addressing everything from chemical exposure to public safety and mental wellbeing. Businesses are urged to review their current practices to ensure full compliance and foster safer working environments.

UK Focus: Mental Health, Building Safety, and Martyn's Law

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK is placing a heightened emphasis on psychosocial risks, such as work-related stress, workload pressures, and burnout. Employers are now expected to identify, assess, record (for businesses with five or more employees), and proactively manage these mental health risks, treating them with the same gravity as physical hazards. The HSE has indicated it will take enforcement action where employers fail to manage work-related stress, particularly if warning signs are ignored.

Building safety continues to be a critical area of reform. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR), established under the Building Safety Act 2022, became a standalone body on January 27, 2026, transferring from the HSE. This move aims for greater accountability in high-risk and multi-occupancy buildings, with stricter compliance standards for landlords, property managers, and operators. Additionally, the HSE has initiated plans to toughen asbestos training and management in commercial and multi-occupancy buildings, focusing on enhancing the quality and regularity of asbestos surveys and defining hazardous work.

A significant piece of new legislation is Martyn's Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, which is being rolled out in stages. This law introduces mandatory security measures for public venues and events, requiring businesses to:

  • Conduct security risk assessments to understand potential threats.
  • Develop clear emergency plans for evacuation or invacuation.
  • Ensure staff are trained in security protocols and emergency response.
  • Implement measures to control access and movement within the site, such as bag checks or controlled entry.
  • Utilise surveillance measures like CCTV to detect suspicious activity.
  • Appoint an individual responsible for overseeing security planning and compliance.

Martyn's Law applies to public-facing spaces, necessitating a review of risk assessments and staff training on new security protocols.

Furthermore, the HSE has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), open for responses until June 30, 2026. This review is set to expand the list of reportable occupational diseases from six to nineteen, including new conditions related to asbestos and silica exposure, noise-induced hearing loss, and emerging risks from modern workplaces.

Irish Regulatory Developments: Chemical Safety and Construction Focus

In Ireland, significant updates have been introduced to enhance worker protection from hazardous chemicals. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, signed two new sets of Regulations into law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. These regulations transpose EU Directive 2024/869, aiming to improve worker protection from the harmful effects of lead and diisocyanates.

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Both lead and diisocyanates pose serious health risks, including impacts on fertility, sexual function, the nervous system, and other long-term health problems. Notably, the Directive establishes EU-wide occupational exposure limits for diisocyanates, chemicals frequently linked to asthma and skin conditions, affecting an estimated 4.2 million workers across the EU. The new rules also strengthen protections related to lead exposure, requiring ongoing medical monitoring for workers with elevated blood-lead levels and setting stricter exposure limits for female workers of childbearing age.

Following these amendments, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has published a new Code of Practice on the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 to 2026 and the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Regulations 2024 and 2026, which came into force on April 9, 2026. This new Code of Practice replaces previous versions and provides updated guidance for businesses handling these substances.

The construction sector in Ireland is also seeing renewed focus. The Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC) launched a new three-year action plan (2025–2027) in September 2025. This plan prioritises tackling traditional hazards and emerging risks, strengthening the role of Safety Representatives, and providing targeted support for SMEs and self-employed workers. The CSPAC is actively promoting the adoption of digital platforms and software for improved safety management on construction sites, including digital safety reporting, online training modules, and mobile risk assessment apps.

Preparing for the Future of Workplace Safety

These comprehensive updates in both the UK and Ireland highlight a clear trend towards more stringent and holistic health and safety management. Employers must proactively engage with these changes, updating their risk assessments, training programmes, and safety protocols to ensure compliance and, crucially, to safeguard the wellbeing of their workforce. The economic cost of workplace injury and ill-health in the UK alone reached an estimated £22.9 billion annually, with 40.1 million lost working days, underscoring the importance of robust health and safety practices.

For businesses seeking to navigate these evolving regulatory landscapes, expert guidance and comprehensive training are invaluable. Abertay Training offers a range of health and safety courses designed to help organisations meet their legal obligations and foster a strong safety culture. More information can be found at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.