Christmas is nearly here and it can be a demanding time for those working throughout the festive season.
The run-up to Christmas can be especially busy for those who work in haulage and distribution.
Workers in this industry are vulnerable to the risk of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries from hazardous manual handling. This can include:
- people lifting heavy parcels around warehouses
- delivery drivers moving products across the country
Our step-by-step guide to manual handling at work should help you minimise these risks.
We also have advice for users and suppliers of agency, or temporary workers, as many of these are specifically employed for the festive period.
A workplace safety failure resulted in serious injury to a young worker.
The teenage worker broke his arm after becoming entangled in a manual lathe. He was deburring by hand with emery cloth, without using a protective appliance.
HSE's investigation found that the manufacturing company had failed to provide a safe system of work or a risk assessment for deburring components. The conveyor systems manufacturer was fined £16,000.
Read more about the incident in our press release: Manufacturer fined after 18-year-old breaks arm in workplace accident.
Relevant guidance can be found on HSE's website: Using emery cloth on metalworking lathes.
Other enforcement news
For more health and safety headlines visit our news centre, including:
HSE has updated our noise exposure calculator to enhance its effectiveness in helping employers assess hearing protection in noisy environments.
The new version features mobile compatibility and more precise calculations for hearing protection.
Visit our website to access the updated noise exposure calculator.
Key updates include:
- mobile compatibility: now optimised for smartphones, allowing easy access via Microsoft Excel
- enhanced protection calculation: includes the HML (High, Medium, Low) method for improved accuracy
Why it matters
Recent inspections revealed that many employers failed to ensure that workers wearing hearing protection could still hear safety alarms.
The updated calculator helps identify over and under-protection, ensuring safety alarms remain audible where necessary.
We published our Annual Report and Accounts on Thursday 20 November.
The report shows how we’ve used our funding to help protect people and places as part of our 10-year strategy. Contents include a statement from our Chair Sarah Newton and Chief Executive Sarah Albon.
An executive summary is also available, translated into Welsh and in a large print version.
Visit our website to view HSE's Annual Report and Accounts.
11 December 2025, 10:30am to 11:30am
Join us for our free informative webinar covering the key steps to accident and incident investigations.
With over 30 million working days lost annually to work-related accidents and illnesses, effective incident investigation is crucial for preventing future harm and identifying avoidable risks.
All attendees will receive a CPD certificate.
Visit our website to find out more details or book your place at the webinar: Investigating to Prevent: A Practical Guide to Workplace Accidents and Incidents
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