Autumn Newsletter 2026

Our Charity Walk – 5th September

WHAT A DAY. WHAT A TEAM. WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT!

On Saturday, Team MSA Safety took on an incredible 20-mile challenge across the stunning, but seriously tough, Dorset coastline, tackling endless hills, steep climbs and plenty of aching legs along the way!
They may still be hurting now, but what an amazing achievement and all in support of three fantastic charities. We couldn’t be prouder of everyone who took part! ❤️

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has donated so far, your support genuinely means so much to us and makes every painful mile worthwhile.

And if you’d still like to donate, we would be absolutely over the moon! Every donation, big or small, helps us support these wonderful causes.

Well done Team MSA Safety – you smashed it!❤️

Hot Summer Sparks Surge in Subsidence Claims

A prolonged hot, dry summer has triggered a sharp rise in subsidence problems across UK homes, with insurance claims reaching their highest level in 12 years.

More than 10,000 households made subsidence claims between July and September, worth around £64 million, four times the number recorded in the previous quarter.

South-east England was particularly badly affected due to its prevalence of clay soil, which can shrink significantly when it dries out.

What causes subsidence?

Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a property moves or shrinks, causing the building above to shift. Extended periods of dry weather can increase the risk, particularly in clay soils.

Trees and shrubs can also contribute by drawing moisture from the ground, while leaking drains or water pipes can destabilise surrounding soil.

Homeowners are advised not to panic at the first sign of a crack, as cracking can have many causes. However, potential warning signs of subsidence include:

• Cracks that appear suddenly
• Diagonal cracks that are wider at the top
• Cracks thicker than a 10p coin
• Cracking around doors and windows
• Wallpaper that suddenly rips or crinkles

Subsidence is normally covered by buildings insurance, and homeowners who suspect a problem should contact their insurer as soon as possible.

The dramatic rise follows other weather-related insurance claims, with the Beast from the East and Storm Emma earlier in the year resulting in a record £194 million being paid out for burst pipes.

2026 Training Courses

• Temporary Works Supervisor
• Temporary Works Co-ordinator
• First Aid
• Scaffold Inspections
• NVQ Assessments for Construction
• SMSTS & Refreshers
• SSSTS & Refreshers
• Health & Safety Awareness
• SEATS
• Plant (NPORS & CPCS)

Book Now Online – 02380 669305 – bw@msasafety.co.uk

East Green Energy Achieves ISO 9001

A huge congratulations to East Green Energy on achieving ISO 9001, the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS).

This is a fantastic milestone and the result of a great deal of hard work and commitment from the East Green Energy team, working alongside Lee Shirley and MSA to successfully get the certification over the line.

ISO 9001 demonstrates that an organisation has robust processes in place to consistently deliver quality products and services, meet customer and regulatory requirements, manage risk and continually improve.

For East Green Energy, certification brings greater customer confidence, stronger and more consistent processes, clearer accountability and a structured approach to monitoring performance and driving improvement. It will also strengthen their position when tendering for new work and meeting client and supply-chain requirements.

Most importantly, ISO 9001 provides a strong framework that can grow with the business.

Congratulations to everyone involved! This well-deserved achievement puts East Green Energy in an excellent position for the future.

Worker died after suffering ‘catastrophic’ injuries while fixing industrial door

A company has been fined £400,000 after an employee suffered fatal injuries while attempting to repair an industrial door in what the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described as an “entirely avoidable” incident.

Anthony Webb, 59, was repairing an electrically operated overhead door at an advertising printing company in Cardiff on 5 September 2022 when an industrial wrench slipped. The door spring unwound uncontrollably, ejecting the tool and striking him.

He suffered catastrophic injuries and died the following day.

An HSE investigation found employer GNW 2023 Realisations Limited had failed to adequately maintain the doors, despite two previous incidents involving door failures that had injured employees.

There was no routine inspection or preventative maintenance programme, and Mr Webb had repeatedly been allowed to carry out repairs despite not being suitably trained. The company had also failed to provide an adequate risk assessment, safe system of work or appropriate tools and equipment.

HSE inspector Georgina Bennett said industrial door maintenance was a high-risk activity involving stored energy and should only be undertaken by properly trained people using specialist equipment.

She said: “This incident was entirely avoidable. Were it not for these failures, Tony Webb’s death could have been prevented.”

Mr Webb’s wife, Ewelina, described her husband as a “cheeky chap” who loved fixing things for friends and neighbours, adding: “Every day when I wake up it is like a cloud hanging over me.”

GNW 2023 Realisations Limited was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay £17,854 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court.

Construction Company and Director Fined After Unsafe Roof Work Put Lives at Risk

A construction company and its director have been fined after workers were repeatedly put at risk during unsafe roof work at a central London development.

B&O Developers Ltd and director Sanjay Swaminarayan were prosecuted following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into work at what is now the Kings Cross Express Inn on Kings Cross Road.

The HSE became involved after concerned members of the public sent photographs showing workers on the roof without adequate protection from falls. Operatives were also seen using a makeshift platform balanced on a stepladder to access the roof.

Investigators found that essential safety measures, including scaffolding and edge protection identified in the roofing subcontractor’s own risk assessment, were not in place.

Most concerning was that the unsafe practices continued despite previous HSE intervention. Inspectors had responded to several concerns about the site between 2021 and 2023, taken enforcement action and met with Swaminarayan to discuss improvements. Yet in January 2024, further concerns were raised about unsafe roof work.

B&O Developers Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £4,020, plus a £1,608 surcharge.

Swaminarayan pleaded guilty to offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £2,300, ordered to pay an £1,108 surcharge and £8,000 in costs.

HSE inspector Lucy Ellison-Dunn said the working practices had “put lives at risk”, adding that Swaminarayan had been given guidance on safe working at height on several occasions but failed to ensure suitable controls were maintained.

The case is another stark reminder of the consequences of poorly managed work at height. Falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities, making proper access, edge protection, supervision and planning essential whenever roof work is undertaken.

It also highlights the important role members of the public can play in reporting dangerous working practices before they result in serious injury or death.

Free suicide prevention training launched for construction workers

A new free digital training programme has been launched to help tackle the construction industry’s high suicide rate and give workers the confidence to support colleagues struggling with their mental health.

Developed by Mates in Mind in partnership with Baton of Hope, the suicide prevention training launches ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September and is particularly aimed at sole traders, self-employed workers and small construction businesses.

Construction workers at increased risk Mental health remains a serious concern across construction. Chartered Institute of Building research suggests nearly two-thirds of workers experience stress, half experience anxiety and almost a third have experienced suicidal thoughts at some point.

High workloads, financial pressures, job uncertainty, tight project deadlines and poor work-life balance can all contribute to the problem. Construction workers are reported to face a significantly higher risk of suicide than the national average.

Despite this, suicide prevention training can be difficult for smaller businesses to access. By making the new programme free and available digitally, Mates in Mind hopes to remove both financial and geographical barriers.

Samantha Downie, managing director of Mates in Mind, said the training will help workers recognise signs of mental ill-health and suicidal thoughts in themselves and others, giving them the skills and confidence to start conversations and direct people towards support before they reach crisis point.

Mike McCarthy, co-founder of Baton of Hope, said the industry’s longstanding focus on physical safety has saved lives and that the same attention now needs to be given to mental wellbeing and psychological safety.

The initiative aims to make conversations about suicide less daunting and ensure construction workers know how to recognise when someone may need help, potentially saving a colleague’s life.

https://www.matesinmind.org/training-and-resources/world-suicide-prevention-day-10-september

Poor Site Toilets Putting Construction Workers Off the Job

Inadequate toilet and welfare facilities on construction sites are leaving workers frustrated, uncomfortable and, in some cases, considering leaving the industry altogether.

A survey of 633 construction workers has highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with site welfare provision, with women particularly affected by poor or inconsistent access to suitable toilets.

More than six in 10 women surveyed said they had deliberately restricted how much they drank to avoid having to use site toilets, raising concerns about both worker wellbeing and the suitability of facilities.

Privacy is another significant issue. Only around four in 10 respondents said site toilets always had functioning locks, while concerns were also raised about cleanliness, maintenance and access to appropriate sanitary disposal facilities.

The findings suggest poor welfare provision can have consequences beyond day-to-day discomfort. Some workers reported leaving sites or considering leaving the construction industry because suitable facilities were not available.

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, contractors have responsibilities for providing appropriate welfare facilities, while Health and Safety Executive guidance sets out expectations around toilets and washing facilities.

For surveyors carrying out site inspections, project monitoring or compliance checks, welfare provision should therefore be more than a box-ticking exercise. Poor facilities can affect health, dignity, workforce retention and morale, while also creating compliance and reputational risks for businesses.

The message for the industry is simple: decent site welfare is not an optional extra. It is a fundamental part of providing a safe, professional and inclusive workplace.