Your Health & Safety half-year roundup

Let’s take a look 

Hi, I’m David, manager of Citation’s Health & Safety advice team. As we hit the halfway mark of 2025, I’m here to share the biggest trends we’ve seen so far in the world of Health & Safety, and what they mean for your business in staying safe, compliant, and prepared for the months ahead. 

 

Here’s how things work

Whenever our clients give us a call, we log the details in our CRM system. From there, we’ve built detailed dashboards that let us track advice enquiries across our client base, from which sectors are calling most often to the top topics and trends shaping the health and safety landscape. 

We also keep a close eye on the number of enforcement cases we’ve supported clients through. By analysing this data, we gain valuable insights that help us continually improve our advice and stay one step ahead of emerging risks.  

It’s been a busy year for Citation so far. We’ve now officially been providing support and advice for over 30 years (Happy Birthday to us!), so let’s jump in and see what some of the most common calls have been about, and how we can help our clients solve them.  

 

Citation’s Health & Safety advice line statistics, January – July 2025 

Since January, we’ve delivered nearly 11,300 pieces of advice through our Health & Safety advice line, and exchanged close to 9,000 emails with clients, offering ongoing support, guidance, and clarification when they’ve needed it most. This means we’ve helped our clients with over 20,000 enquiries so far this year, supporting them across every area of their business.  

 

Top five advice areas 

Here’s a breakdown of the top five most popular Health & Safety matter types we’ve received so far via our advice line in 2025: 

1. Health & Safety policies, 9.72% 
2. RIDDOR, 9.05% 
3. Risk assessment, 8.81% 
4. Accreditation, 7.6%
5. Accident, 6.68%

The order of inquiries has changed a bit since 2024: 

1. Risk assessment, 9.22% 
2. Accidents, 8.23% 
3. Accreditation, 6.75% 
4. RIDDOR 6.6% 
5. Health & Safety policies, 6.14%

The order of our top topics may shift slightly as we head towards the end of 2025. However, key compliance pillars, such as risk assessments, accidents, RIDDOR reporting, accreditation, and Health & Safety policies have consistently ranked in our top 5–10 over the past five years. We don’t expect that to change any time soon. 

 

Sector breakdown

We provide advice across a wide range of industries, but the top three sectors we’ve received advice requests from this year have been: 

1. Construction, 21.19% 
2. Manufacturing, 11.39% 
3. Care, 11.24% 

This doesn’t come as a surprise, as these sectors are high-risk, heavily regulated and face unique safety challenges. 

• In construction, contractors have to meet strict accreditation requirements and manage accident reporting under RIDDOR regulations. 

• In manufacturing, workplaces are likely to face higher enforcement actions due to the complex nature of production, and organisations often need detailed on-site consultancy support. 

• In care, it’s essential that their fire safety is up to date to ensure the safety of staff and residents, and frequent face-to-face interaction requires careful incident management policies.  

That’s why we make sure we have the UK’s largest team of Health & Safety consultants, with years of experience in these sectors, on hand to help. 

 

Top advice topics by industry in 2024

These were the top five advice areas for each of our largest industries from 2024: 

Cleaning: 

1. Risk assessment 
2. RIDDOR 
3. Accident 
4. Accreditation 
5. General health 

Engineering:  

1. Accreditation 
2. Health & Safety policies 
3. RIDDOR 
4. Risk assessment 
5. On-site consultancy

Manufacturing: 

1. Enforcement 
2. Health & Safety policies 
3. Risk assessment 
4. On-site consultancy
5. RIDDOR

Care 

1. Health & Safety policies 
2. Risk assessment 
3. Fire 
4. RIDDOR
5. Accident

Construction: 

1. Accreditation 
2. Health & Safety policies
3. RIDDOR
4. Risk assessment 
5. Accident

Similarly to what we’ve seen so far in 2025, core areas like risk assessments, Health & Safety policies, and RIDDOR reports make frequent appearances across the board.   

 

Enforcements activity 

In 2022, HSE announced five key points for their 10-year business plan, which has influenced the amount and intensity of enforcement notices they’ve given out:  

1. Reduce work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress.  
2. Increase and maintain trust to ensure people feel safe where they live, where they work, and in their environment.  
3. Enable industry to innovate safely to prevent major incidents, supporting the move towards net zero.  
4. Maintain Great Britain’s record as one of the safest countries to work in. 
5. Ensure HSE is a great place to work, and we attract and retain exceptional people. 

Whilst we can’t help with that last objective, we can do our best to make sure that our clients have the knowledge and advice available to meet these key points and stay as safe as possible at work.  

 

Types of notices

Here are the most common types of notice you might receive following a visit from the HSE or another relevant authority: 

• Notice of Contravention:This means the HSE has seen or suspects that something is in breach of Health & Safety law. You’ll need to demonstrate how you plan to put things right. These notices do not go on your formal enforcement record but should still be taken seriously.

• Improvement Notice (IN):An official enforcement notice. This is issued when there are breaches of Health & Safety regulations that require attention, but not urgently. You’ll be given at least 21 days to make the necessary improvements.
• Prohibition Notice (PN):This is more serious. It’s issued when there’s a risk of serious personal injury. All work must stop either immediately or within a specified timeframe, depending on the severity.– PN – Immediate: Work must stop straight away (this is the most common type)

  – PN – Deferred: Work must stop by a set deadline (e.g. if stopping immediately would create greater risk)

• Advice/Warnings: These are informal notices given by inspectors highlighting areas of concern. They’re not legally enforced, but it’s strongly recommended that you act on them promptly to avoid escalation.
• Fire Notice: Although not issued by the HSE, Fire Notices come from your local Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA). They operate similarly — flagging fire safety risks that need to be addressed to remain compliant under fire safety legislation.
• Sector-specific Notices: The HSE can also issue specialist enforcement notices under specific regulations, such as:–  REACH Notices: Covering chemical safety and substance control

  –  PPP(SU)R Notices: For plant protection products under supply and use regulations

   

HSE in action

As of June 2025, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has publicly issued 1826 enforcement notices (notices are published 5 weeks after they’re served to give enough time for appeals and internal quality assurance). 

Since January, HSE has issued: 

• 475 Prohibition Notices 

• 1328 Improvement Notices 

• 23 other enforcement notices (REACH, PPP(SU)R etc.) 

As it stands, our clients are 47x less likely to face an enforcement notice than the national average. But sometimes it does happen.  

Here’s a breakdown of the enforcement action we’ve supported clients with so far this year, and some tips for ensuring your business stays compliant.  

 

Citation enforcement statistics January-July 2025

Our clients have collectively received 120 notices since January, with the vast majority (~52%) being Notices of Contravention.  

• 20.83% were Improvement Notices 

• 12.5% were advice/warnings 

• 11.66% were Prohibition Notices 

• 2.5% were Fire Notices 

 

Top five enforcement notices by topic  

The top 50% of all enforcement notices came from these five areas: 

1. COSHH, 14.17% 
2. Health surveillance, 9.17% 
3. Guarding, 7.5% 
4. Local exhaust ventilation (LEV), 6.67% 
5. Working at height, 5.83% 

 

Enforcement types by sector and subject

Construction:

• Most formal notices issued: Prohibition Notices 

• Common enforcement themes: Unsafe access, working at height, site conditions 

Construction leads in high-severity enforcement, with multiple Prohibition Notices meaning inspectors are regularly identifying immediate risks serious enough to halt work. 

Manufacturing: 

• Most formal notices issued: Improvement Notices 

• Common enforcement themes: Machine guarding, COSHH, equipment maintenance 

Manufacturing received the highest number of Improvement Notices, showing that while risks may not always be urgent, HSE is actively pushing for operational improvements. 

Engineering: 

• Notices issued: Mix of Improvement and Contravention Notices  

• Common enforcement themes: COSHH, lifting equipment and Local Exhaust Ventilation 

While engineering businesses haven’t yet seen severe enforcement, the high volume of contravention notices shows they’re under watch. 

Logistics: 

• Most formal notices issued: Improvement Notices 

• Common enforcement themes: Risk assessments, workplace transport, electrical safety, LOLER compliance 

Logistics received multiple Improvement Notices, the strongest pattern being gaps in risk assessments. Issues also included transport safety, lifting equipment and operations requirements, and electrical hazards, reflecting the sector’s complex operational environment where layered compliance is critical. 

Care: 

• Most formal notices issued: Fire Notices  

• Common enforcement themes: Fire safety systems, evacuation planning 

Fire notices dominate in care, pointing to ongoing concerns about preparedness in high-vulnerability environments. These may not be HSE-issued but carry equal compliance weight. 

Food: 

• Notices issued: Low-volume Notice of Contravention 

• Common enforcement themes: Workplace transport, manual handling, asbestos 

While enforcement numbers are low, the spread of issues suggests no single focus but a continued need to tighten up on basics across the board. 

 

Top tips for protecting your business from the main enforcement areas 

Accidents and oversights can happen, even with the best intentions. That’s why it’s essential to have a robust plan in place: one that helps you proactively reduce risk and react quickly and effectively if something goes wrong.  

Here are some of my best tips to help protect your business from the five most common enforcement areas: 

COSHH

• Regularly assess your areas: Carry out frequent checks to identify hazardous substances, note where they’re stored, who has access to them, and what your policies are when it comes to handling, transportation and disposal. Document everything! 

• Set up proper control measures and maintain them: Ensure staff have the correct PPE, and that areas are well ventilated to control exposure. 

• Train everyone on proper procedures: Everyone handling hazardous substances should be fully trained, and all employees should know what to do in the event of a spill, exposure, or emergency. 

Health surveillance 

• Be proactive: Make sure systems are in place to protect employee health from day one, especially in environments where exposure to noise, dust, fumes, or vibration is a risk.  

• Schedule regular health checks: Health surveillance is all about keeping your employees healthy at work – so make sure you’re conducting health checks throughout the year to stay on top of any emerging issues. 

• Encourage open communication: Create a culture where employees feel comfortable coming to talk to you about any health problems or concerns, so you can act on them ASAP. 

• Keep clear records: Log every health concern or incident, even minor ones. This helps you spot trends, respond early, and fulfil legal duties. 

Guarding  

• Ensure all machinery is properly guarded: All your machinery should have appropriate guards that fit correctly and are maintained regularly, particularly on moving parts.  

• Follow rules and guidelines: Stick closely to PUWER requirements and carry out regular inspections.  

• Set up designated areas: Mark out clear areas where operations take place, or where vehicles will be driving. Keep staff and vehicles separate, with designated walkways and clear signposting.  

• Train your employees: Train staff on the correct use of guards and what to do if a guard is missing or damaged. Keep an up-to-date training matrix to know who has completed training or who needs a refresher.   

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) 

• Install proper ventilation systems: PPE alone isn’t always enough. If you’re working with dust, fumes, or airborne particles, you’ll need local exhaust ventilation that meets COSHH requirements. 

• Regularly check and clean your ventilation: Ventilation systems can clog or degrade over time. Schedule inspections and servicing to keep them working efficiently. 

Working at height 

• Carry out thorough risk assessments: Working at height is one of the highest-risk activities in the workplace. You must conduct a risk assessment before work begins and regularly review it. Always assess whether the task can be done from the ground, and consider factors like weather, surfaces, and emergency access. 

• Use the right equipment for the job: Use appropriate equipment for the task at hand, whether it’s a ladder, scaffold, or MEWP, make sure equipment is suitable and safe. Ensure your employees are always wearing harnesses and using fall protection where required.  

• Only allow trained personnel to work at height: Never compromise on competence. If someone isn’t trained, they shouldn’t be up there. Provide the right training and certifications first.  

 

Boost your compliance and protection with Citation

Here at Citation, we want our clients to feel confident that they’ve got the knowledge, support and guidance they need to thrive. That’s why our Health & Safety advice line is so valuable. With 24/7 availability, we’re here for you whenever you need us.  

I hope this roundup has provided useful insights and practicable tips to help strengthen your compliance. Thank you for being a valued client. We look forward to continuing to support you and your business. 

Best wishes, 

David Taylor 

Health & Safety Advice Manager 

 

Not part of our Health & Safety service yet? If you’d like to benefit from free advice all year round and guaranteed protection, get in touch on 0161 532 4731.