Recent HSE Cases & What They Mean for Schools and Businesses

Recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement action highlights common safety failures that are relevant across many sectors, including schools, education settings, offices, and commercial workplaces. These cases show the importance of keeping risk assessments, training, and control measures up to date as organisations change over time.

In one recent case, Research and Development in Opening Gates Limited, a metal gate manufacturer based in Lincolnshire, was fined £80,000 plus costs after repeated failures to control welding fumes, unsafe machinery, and poor storage of flammable gases. Despite previous HSE visits and enforcement notices, risks were not properly managed, exposing workers to serious harm. This case reinforces the importance of managing hazardous substances, equipment safety, and acting promptly on identified issues.

Construction and premises management also remain a key focus for the HSE. Stockport Development Limited was fined £45,000 plus costs and surcharge after multiple safety failings were identified on a construction site, including missing edge protection, inadequate fire safety arrangements, unsafe access routes, and poor welfare facilities. While this was a construction environment, the findings mirror issues that can also apply to schools and other premises, such as fire safety controls, safe access and egress, and maintaining a safe environment for staff and visitors.

Machinery and equipment safety continues to be a major enforcement area. Film & Foil Solutions Ltd was fined £20,000 plus costs after a worker lost part of his finger due to poorly guarded machinery and the absence of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. This serves as an important reminder that any equipment used in workplaces — including technology, workshop tools, caretaking equipment, and cleaning machinery commonly found in schools — must be properly assessed, maintained, and used safely.

Alongside prosecutions, the HSE continues to emphasise that risk assessments must accurately reflect how activities are carried out in practice. For schools and education settings, this includes areas such as classroom activities, design and technology rooms, science labs, sports and PE, site maintenance, contractors on site, and fire safety arrangements. Risk assessments should be reviewed whenever there are changes, such as new staff, changes to buildings, new equipment, or altered routines.

The HSE also places strong importance on practical compliance, not just paperwork. This includes ensuring staff receive appropriate training and information, having clear procedures in place, maintaining safe premises, providing adequate welfare and first aid arrangements, and regularly reviewing fire safety and emergency plans. These fundamentals are frequently at the centre of inspections and enforcement action when they are missing or out of date.

Overall, the consistent message from the HSE is that proactive management of health and safety is far more effective than reacting after an incident or inspection. Regular reviews, clear communication, and timely updates help protect staff, pupils, and others while reducing the risk of enforcement action.

How Armadillo Safety Solutions can helpWe support schools and organisations with practical health and safety compliance, including risk assessment reviews, fire safety, training, and ongoing advisory support. If you’d like help checking whether your current arrangements are still fit for purpose, we’re here to help.