Key Regulatory Updates (UK, 2022-2025)
- Building Safety Act 2022 – Creates a Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and makes duty-holders (Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, “Accountable Person”) personally liable for fire and structural safety in higher-risk residential blocks.
- Revised Building Regulations
- Part L – Tighter insulation, air-tightness and solar-gain limits; introduces Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES) as the benchmark for new homes.
- Part F – Stronger ventilation and indoor-air-quality requirements.
- Part O – Mandatory design measures to prevent summertime overheating.
- Part S – Every new dwelling and many non-domestic sites must be “EV-ready” with cabling capacity for future chargers.
- 10-Year Rule (from 25 Apr 2024) – Unauthorised works that have stood unchallenged for a decade are deemed lawful without retrospective consent.
Implications for Practice
- Higher-risk schemes cannot start until BSR signs off design, construction and occupation stages.
- Architects, contractors and developers face heavier compliance audits and must keep a “Golden Thread” of safety information for the building’s life.
- Expect extra design time for thermal modelling, noise mitigation and EV-infrastructure layouts, plus clearer client advice on long-term maintenance duties. For a comprehensive look at the Guidance: www.gov.uk/guidance/the-building-safety-act
Roofer Fined After Workers Caught Illegally Dumping Asbestos in Residential Bins
A roofing contractor has been fined and sentenced to unpaid community work after his employees were filmed illegally disposing of asbestos waste in domestic bins in a residential neighbourhood.
The incident, captured on a doorbell camera in February 2022, showed workers discarding ripped plastic bags containing asbestos from an old garage roof into household waste bins at a property in Altrincham.
The operation lacked any of the required safety measures.
Following a public complaint, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation and found that asbestos fibres had contaminated the surrounding area, putting both workers and residents at risk.
Stephen Wilks, who trades as S Wilks Roofing, admitted to breaching asbestos safety regulations and appeared before Ashton-under-Lyne Magistrates’ Court. He was ordered to pay more than £3,500 in costs and sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 200 hours of unpaid work. The court heard that Mr Wilks had been hired by a property management company to remove and replace asbestos cement roof panels from three garages on Green Walk in Bowdon, Altrincham. A neighbour raised concerns after debris was seen falling into their garden, prompting the HSE to intervene. Inspectors found ripped bags of asbestos waste left unsecured in front of the garages, with residents’ stored belongings also contaminated by the material. The waste was later removed, and the area was professionally cleaned. “This was a serious incident that put Mr Wilks, those working under his control, and members of the public at risk from the harmful effects of asbestos exposure,” said HSE Inspector Phil Redman. The HSE stressed the importance of proper training and disposal protocols when dealing with asbestos, which remains one of the UK’s most dangerous building materials.
Training Funding
Employer Networks are a new initiative set up to simplify the way you get the funding you need to access the training you want.
It is sometimes difficult to navigate the funding options available to you, along with the onerous paperwork. This is where we come in as we’re here to help you access your funding!
The training can be in anything that supports construction employers. These could be the trade skills you need right now or something you’ll need in the future – such as net zero, digital skills or mentoring.
Do you have training coming up for you or your team?
If you are a CITB Levy Member, this applies to you!
Call us, and we will book your courses and make sure you get the funding, without all the paperwork!
70% of training fees covered
Welcome to the MSA Safety Team- Helen Purchon
Based in the Southampton office, Helen has joined us following a long and successful career in the British Army. Helen’s expertise is firmly rooted in compliance enforcement, risk management and workforce training, with a passion for health and safety, along with environmental management. With a level head and a positive approach to client communications, her new career is all set for success.
Construction Director Sentenced After Fatal Fall
The director of a Leicester-based construction firm has received a suspended prison sentence following the death of an employee who fell from a roof during a building project.
James Pitsillides, director of Affordable Lifestyle Design Limited, admitted to failing to implement adequate fall-protection measures, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed in a statement. The incident occurred on 18 March 2019 in the village of Thurmaston, where 59-year-old Stephen Pywell was working on a house extension. According to the HSE, Pywell was walking along roof beams when he fell from a height of just under eight feet. He had accessed the roof via a ladder, but no edge protection was in place to prevent a fall. Pywell was taken to hospital and underwent surgery but succumbed to his injuries several weeks later.
An HSE investigation found that Pitsillides had failed to properly manage safety on-site, including safeguarding subcontractors involved in the roofing work. The director, of Great Glen, Leicester, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he must pay £10,000 in costs.
“This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure to implement simple fall-protection measures,” said HSE inspector Phil Gratton. “Had the company used suitable work equipment or devised a safe system of work, Mr Pywell’s tragic death could have been prevented. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.”
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry.
Wild Spa at Lepe Beach by Alison Clover Kinna
On a sunny spring morning, I set out for a walk at Lepe Beach, and stumbled upon something entirely unexpected.
Just above the tideline, gazing out across the Solent, sat a wood-clad sauna cabin, its chimney releasing wisps of aromatic steam. It looked like something out of a Nordic dream.
Naturally, curiosity took over. A small group of hardy bathers emerged from the sea, beaming and dripping with salt water, before disappearing into the steamy warmth of the cabin. Nearby, an outdoor cold-water shower waited for its next brave participant. The whole scene was serene and invigorating. Nature and nurture, side by side.
We soon met the mind behind it all: Bailey, the spa’s owner and passionate advocate for “sweat bathing.” With infectious enthusiasm, she explained the concept behind the wild spa.
“It’s about reconnecting with yourself, with nature, with your breath,” she said. “The contrast between cold water and sauna heat is incredible for both body and mind.”
She’s not wrong. Sauna use has been linked to a host of benefits, from reduced stress and soothed muscles to improved heart health and boosted mood. Add in the natural beauty of Lepe Beach, and you’ve got something special: a place to pause, breathe deeply, and let the elements do their work.
As more people took the plunge – some seasoned swimmers, others hesitant, it was clear this was more than a trend. A community was forming, bonded by wellness, bravery, and the joy of doing something just a little out of the ordinary.
So if you find yourself near Lepe Beach, keep an eye out for the little wooden cabin with a view that could cure a thousand Monday blues. Whether you’re a cold-water convert or a curious newcomer, Bailey’s wild spa might be just the reset you didn’t know you needed. Sometimes, all it takes is the sea, and a bit of steam, to feel brand new.
To start your mental and physical well-being journey, go to: www.solacesauna.co.uk
WHAT’S ON
Father’s Day Pappa’s Paddle to the Pub
New Forest Activities
15th June 2025 (09:00 -17:00)
Enjoy paddling together through the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve as a family, ending at the Master Builder’s pub on the riverside where Dad can wet his whistle with a nice cold beer.
Chilli and Gin Festival
Fort Purbrook, Portsmouth
28 June 2025 – 29 June 2025
Expect delicious gins, fiery chillies and plenty of entertainment over the two-day event – with the Saturday being all about chilli and gin, whilst Sunday is chicken (and vegan) wing day.
A History Hunt Re-enactment Weekend
New Forest
12 July 2025 – 13 July 2025
This two-day event features live re-enactments including military displays with firing muskets and cannon fire, officers dining and the feeding of the troops and civilians, plus a live drum jam featuring music from the Civil War.
Devoted to Dogs Day
Exbury Gardens
6th Jul 2025 – 6th Jul 2025
Bring your dog along to enjoy some free fun activities with support from The Family Dog Club, and take home a rosette. Don’t forget to bring your dog training treats! Visitors who bring their four-legged friends to Exbury a discount of 20% on gardens admission on Sunday 6th July 2025.
https://www.exbury.co.uk/devoted-to-dogs-day-copy
Sausages & Cider Festival
Winchester
30th August 2025
Live music with Scouting for Girls and great tribute acts, festival market, cider & bars, over 20 different types of sausage and so much more.
www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/winchester
These events are not recommendations, they are for information only. MSA cannot be held responsible for lack of enjoyment, financial loss or issues arising from these activities. Activities are undertaken at the readers choice and risk.
Building a Safer Site – The Role of Behavioural Safety Training in Construction
Behavioural safety training in construction shifts the focus from rules to mindsets, aiming to reduce accidents by changing worker attitudes and habits. Rather than simply enforcing compliance, it digs into the root causes of unsafe actions, promoting a culture where safety becomes second nature.
Key elements include helping workers understand how attitudes shape behaviour and teaching them to spot and respond to unsafe conditions. Training reinforces positive habits, addresses human error, and emphasises communication and engagement. Supervisors learn to influence team behaviours through feedback and meaningful safety conversations.
Legal responsibilities and decision-making around risk are also covered, with many programs now incorporating mental health awareness.
The benefits are clear: fewer accidents, stronger safety cultures, better communication, and improved morale. Financially, companies save through fewer injuries, lower insurance costs, and reduced downtime.
Common strategies include behaviour observation on-site and leadership training for supervisors, ensuring that safety isn’t just taught but lived daily.
For further information on how to book this course – contact bw@msasafety.co.uk
Safety Failures Reported at Hinkley Point C Days Before Environmental Trial
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has issued an improvement notice to Nuclear New Build Generation Company (NNB GenCo), the site licensee and principal contractor at Hinkley Point C, over safety concerns related to a damaged tower crane. The enforcement action follows the discovery of structural issues during routine pre-use checks in February. A site operator identified cracking in a mast section of the crane, along with a failed pin connecting two sections. The faults were promptly reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). The ONR’s improvement notice cites a breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 13(1), indicating a failure by NNB GenCo to adequately plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase and ensure the safe condition and maintenance of tower cranes.
Fortunately, early detection meant that no injuries occurred and the crane did not fail or collapse. John McKenniff, principal inspector at the ONR, stated: “While the observed damage did not result in any crane failure or collapse, this improvement notice was served to ensure that action is taken to prevent any similar occurrences in the future. We will monitor the actions of NNB GenCo and will consider taking further action if additional shortfalls are identified.”
The notice adds to a series of recent HSE interventions, with enforcement actions also taken this year against Network Rail and other high-profile organisations. Environmental Information Case Against NNB Begins. The timing of the safety notice coincides with the start of a legal case against NNB GenCo, brought by Fish Legal. The environmental group is challenging the company’s handling of changes to fish protection plans at the nuclear site. Originally, NNB had committed to using an acoustic fish deterrent, but later switched to a saltmarsh-based design. Although the company has since reverted to an acoustic deterrent, citing a new “safe and effective” deployment method, Fish Legal argues that the company has failed to comply with UK environmental information laws. Fish Legal claims NNB, as a foreign-owned operator building and running a nuclear facility in the UK, is legally obligated to disclose environmental impact details upon request, something the group says NNB has consistently refused to do. The trial will test the extent to which foreign nuclear developers must comply with domestic transparency standards in environmental planning.
Teen in Critical Condition After Electrocution at Somerset Private School
A teenager is in critical condition and may require amputation of both feet after a serious electrocution incident at Millfield School, a private boarding school in Street, Somerset.
The incident occurred on Saturday, 3rd May, when three students came into contact with overhead power cables, sustaining severe injuries. Emergency services, including three double-crewed ambulances, an air ambulance, a hazardous area response team, fire crews, and Avon and Somerset Police, responded to the scene. All three students were taken to hospital for urgent treatment.
One of the injured students, identified as Chase, remains in critical condition. His injuries are described as extensive, affecting both his internal organs and extremities. Due to the severity of the burns, Chase has already undergone partial amputation of his toes. NHS surgeons are currently uncertain whether his feet can be saved, citing “critical damage” caused by the burns.
Millfield School has described the incident as an isolated accident and confirmed it is cooperating fully with the authorities. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been notified and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the event.
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