UK and Ireland Introduce Sweeping Health and Safety Reforms for 2026
Employers across the UK and Ireland are navigating a significant landscape of change in health and safety legislation, with a raft of new regulations and guidance updates coming into effect throughout 2026. These developments aim to strengthen worker protections, address evolving workplace risks, and ensure compliance with both national and European directives. Businesses are urged to proactively review their policies and procedures to meet these impending requirements and avoid potential penalties.
Focus on Occupational Health and Psychosocial Risks in the UK
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK is intensifying its efforts to tackle work-related ill health, with a particular emphasis on mental health and stress. As part of its 10-year strategic plan (2022-2032), the HSE is pushing for mental well-being to be treated as a core component of workplace safety. This means employers are now expected to integrate stress and burnout into their risk assessments, provide training on psychological safety, and demonstrate active support for employee mental health. The HSE's 2026 inspection priorities include psychosocial risks, with mental health, work-related stress, and burnout now integral components of legal health and safety responsibilities.
Further reforms are also targeting asbestos management. The HSE has launched new proposals to strengthen asbestos management in commercial and multi-occupancy buildings. These updates focus on improving the quality and frequency of asbestos surveys, ensuring proper clearance checks, and clarifying what constitutes hazardous work. Businesses now need to ensure asbestos surveys are current and thorough, with a live asbestos register and management plan in place.
Additionally, the HSE is consulting on a major overhaul of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), with responses open until June 30, 2026. Proposed changes include expanding the list of reportable occupational diseases from six to 19, encompassing conditions like lung disease linked to asbestos and silica exposure, and noise-induced hearing loss. The proposals also seek to broaden who can formally diagnose a reportable condition to include registered health practitioners beyond GMC-registered doctors.
Ireland Strengthens Protections Against Chemical and Asbestos Exposure
Ireland is also seeing significant regulatory updates, particularly concerning asbestos exposure and safety in specific high-risk sectors. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which came into effect on December 21, 2025, significantly strengthen protections for workers. These regulations give legal effect to recent updates to the EU's Asbestos at Work Directive, lowering the maximum exposure limit value for asbestos and updating measurement methods. In 2019, over 70,000 people in the EU died of illnesses related to asbestos exposure, highlighting the critical need for these enhanced protections.
Furthermore, new regulations have been signed into Irish law to strengthen protection for workers exposed to hazardous chemicals. 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 came into operation on April 9, 2026. These implement EU Directive 2024/869, aiming to improve worker protection from the harmful effects of lead and diisocyanates. Diisocyanates, commonly linked to asthma and skin conditions, now have EU-wide occupational exposure limits for the first time. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has also published a new Code of Practice on the Chemical Agents Regulations and the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Regulations, which came into force on April 9, 2026.
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In the quarrying sector, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 came into force on January 1, 2026. These new regulations introduce stricter safeguards for explosives, require notification to the HSA when work temporarily ceases, and facilitate online form submissions.
Building Safety and Public Protection
The landscape of building safety is also undergoing substantial reform in the UK. The Building Safety Act 2022 continues to be adapted, with 2025 seeing further adjustments to landlord obligations. This includes complying with revised fire safety requirements and Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) duties, preparing comprehensive building safety case reports, and enhancing tenant communication. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR), established under the Act, became a standalone body on January 27, 2026, aiming for greater accountability in high-risk buildings.
Martyn's Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is being rolled out in stages. This legislation introduces staged requirements for public venues and events, mandating robust security measures and emergency planning. It applies to spaces such as shopping centres, leisure facilities, and venues where large numbers of people gather, requiring security risk assessments, clear emergency plans, and staff training on security protocols.
Staying informed and compliant with these evolving health and safety regulations is crucial for all businesses. For comprehensive training solutions to help your organisation meet these new standards, consider Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.