Industry Pulse
HSE Cases Highlight Common Safety Compliance Gaps
Having paperwork in place does not automatically mean a business is compliant.
Recent UK safety alerts and enforcement action show that regulators are looking closely at competence checks, task-specific risk assessments, training records, and evidence.
In this update
- Mobile tower users must have the correct PASMA qualification for the tower type.
- A manufacturing company was fined £600,000 after a fatal pallet storage incident.
- Two companies were fined after an apprentice fell through a fragile roof.
1. Mobile Tower Safety and PASMA Card Verification
The Mobile Access Tower Association (PASMA) has raised concerns that some construction sites are not properly verifying PASMA cards and qualifications.
What happened?
Some supervisors may be checking that a worker has a PASMA card, but not confirming whether that card matches the tower type being used.
Why it matters
- Stair towers, linked towers, and cantilever towers may require different training.
- Assuming competence can lead to unsafe tower installation.
- Digital systems such as TowerSure can help create clearer audit trails.
Impact: Seeing a card is not enough. Site managers must verify that the qualification matches the tower type and task being carried out.
2. £600,000 Fine After Fatal Pallet Storage Incident
A UK manufacturing company was fined £600,000 following the death of a worker who was crushed by a toppled, double-stacked pallet weighing almost 600kg.
What happened?
The HSE investigation found failures around pallet storage risk assessment, double-stacking controls, and staff training.
Why it matters
- General procedures were not enough.
- The risk assessment did not properly reflect the task.
- Staff training on pallet handling was not adequate.
Impact: Generic policies are not enough. Risk assessments must reflect real, on-site storage and handling practices.
3. Apprentice Falls Through Fragile Roof During CCTV Installation
Two UK companies were fined after an apprentice fell through a fragile roof while installing CCTV equipment.
What happened?
The HSE investigation found failures in work-at-height planning, fragile roof assessment, supervision, and post-incident record keeping.
Why it matters
- Fragile roof work needs specific planning.
- Inexperienced workers require proper supervision.
- Missing documentation can make an incident harder to defend.
Impact: Poor planning and missing documentation can significantly increase liability following an incident.
The Bottom Line
Across these examples, the message is consistent: businesses remain exposed if documentation is incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, or not actively used.
When an incident occurs, regulators will usually look for evidence that:
- Competence was verified, not assumed.
- The risk assessment reflected actual site conditions.
- Training was current and evidenced.
- Inspection records were available and complete.
- The business understood and controlled the risk.
“What evidence do you have that the risk was understood and controlled?”
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