HSE's Strategic Approach to Health and Safety: Key Insights from the 2025 AGM

The Health and Safety Executive's Annual General Meeting in July 2025 brought together employers, trade associations, trade union colleagues, and other regulators at their Bootle headquarters. Chair Sarah Newton acknowledged the collective importance placed on protecting people and places, setting the tone for discussions about HSE's evolving regulatory approach.

Strong Performance Against Financial Pressures

Director of Finance and Corporate Services David Murray reported that HSE achieved 100% of milestone commitments and met the vast majority of performance targets. The organisation completed over 13,200 inspections, including more than 7,000 focusing on work-related ill health, issued over 4,400 notices, and supported over 200 prosecutions with a 96% conviction rate.

These achievements came against significant financial pressures, with total running costs just over £300 million. Over the past decade, HSE has reduced its reliance on central government funding by over £100 million whilst maintaining performance standards.

Data-Driven Prevention Focus

Chair Newton described how HSE's use of data intelligence and analytics is transforming risk identification and intervention targeting. The organisation is using AI language models to understand risk profiles across the construction sector, helping identify mismatches between actual hazards causing workplace incidents and risks inspectors commonly focus on during site visits.

This approach has expanded beyond construction into the major hazard sector, with HSE creating a new decision model for assessing non-fatal safety incidents reported under RIDDOR to focus investigations on highest risk areas.

Addressing Work-Related Ill Health

Chief Executive Sarah Albon identified work-related ill health as a key focus, affecting 1.7 million people across Britain with estimated costs of £14.5 billion annually. The prevention programme, launched in November, brought together 70 influential leaders from different economic sectors, with key commitments made in construction, manufacturing and utilities.

HSE's approach includes targeted inspections focusing on managing risks including asbestos, noise, musculoskeletal disorders and hazardous dust, checking health surveillance compliance, and developing approaches to reducing work-related stress.

Asbestos Management: A Prevention Priority

Asbestos management featured prominently, exemplifying HSE's prevention-focused approach. Following the 2022 select committee report recommending improved guidance and clearer communication, HSE has taken significant steps forward.

The organisation published clearer guidance in easier formats, including videos and an updated image library. Newton noted their quick guide for trades generated over 80,000 downloads, demonstrating demand for accessible information.

HSE held an asbestos research prioritisation summit in Manchester with over 60 delegates from industry, training providers, trade unions, professional bodies, researchers and campaign groups to identify research priorities for preventing exposure to asbestos in buildings. They also completed over 700 inspections of licensed asbestos removal contractors.

When questioned about asbestos removal, Rick Brunt, Director of Engagement and Policy, explained that the duty to manage asbestos encompasses knowing what you've got, where it's located, and determining appropriate action. HSE is working with the Department for Work and Pensions on what more can be done, examining the whole system including whether there are competent trained people, adequate numbers, and sufficient disposal facilities.

Brunt highlighted ongoing challenges with an example of an academic institute built in 1448 where asbestos was discovered in flooring during refurbishment - material added sometime in the past 100 years without documentation, emphasising the need for constant vigilance.

Supporting Economic Growth

Chief Executive Albon outlined three ways HSE is contributing to the government's growth agenda: consulting on recognising international approvals to streamline chemical product market entry, examining potential RIDDOR reporting changes to simplify requirements, and modernising prescriptive legislation for pressure systems and lifting equipment.

These initiatives demonstrate HSE's commitment to intelligent regulation that protects workers whilst supporting business growth and minimising unnecessary burdens.

Collaborative Approach

HSE leadership emphasised partnership working throughout the meeting. Albon noted that collaboration between workers, employers and experts established 50 years ago in the Health and Safety at Work Act remains at HSE's core and underpins their success in improving workplace health and safety.
Prevention programme participants have developed their own commitments to reduce work-related ill health, including sharing best practice and data to better understand occupational health needs within their industries.

Mental Health Focus

HSE continues addressing work-related stress, responsible for almost half of work-related ill health cases. They've established programmes with external providers to build evidence on mental ill health, with their "Working Minds" campaign reaching over 6,100 subscribers.
Brunt acknowledged that stress management standards, whilst key instruments, have been difficult for some industries to understand over their 20-plus year existence, requiring more work to ensure proper embedding.

Future Direction

The meeting demonstrated HSE's commitment to proportionate, intelligent regulation protecting people and places whilst enabling business growth. Chief Executive Albon outlined strategic objectives including reducing work-related ill health, maintaining trust, enabling safe innovation for net zero transition, and preserving Great Britain's safety record, with collaboration remaining fundamental across all sectors including asbestos management.