News release, immediate [No embargo]

Recently Birmingham City Council has introduced new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their waste workers raising concerns about the suitability of the equipment and said the council has introduced the PPE without proper consultation, as required by law.

The UK Hazards Campaign calls on Birmingham City Council to both urgently review and act swiftly to ensure that workers are not put at risk.

Workers say the new PPE which is a dark burgundy colour is not suitable for day or nighttime visibility and is yet another example of a failure to meet legal health and safety standards. Their well-trained trade union health and safety are aware of this issue and have ensured it has been raised with management. To date there has been no response.

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require employers to consider the following factors when they are choosing the correct clothing for a particular task, namely:

Is it suitable for the risk, consider the lighting conditions in the working environment? Workers who are particularly at risk from moving vehicles need extremely visible clothing suitable for adverse weather, as the HSE says ‘the darker the conditions, the greater the amount of Hi-visibility (HV) clothing required.’

The Hazards Campaign argues that dark coloured PPE does not meet these basic legal requirements, while their previous uniform which was fluorescent orange ensured day and nighttime visibility.

The Hazards Campaign also notes that the Birmingham bin workers dispute has become embroiled in blacklisting accusations along with the fire and rehire wage cuts, according to UNITE the Union. There seems to have been a shocking disregard for the health, safety and welfare of the workers, leading to allegations of a toxic culture with union victimisation and this latest PPE fiasco is continuing in the same direction.

Further, the Hazards Campaign has also become aware of allegations the agency workers who are now wearing this new PPE have been told if they fail to wear it, their assignments will be cancelled. If this true this would be a serious is a serious health and safety risk, and forcing these vulnerable workers to work in unsafe conditions could lead to legal action against the authority.

Janet Newsham, Chair of the Hazards Campaign says: ‘It concerns me that dark uniforms used in these circumstances, would create a health and safety risk for workers who work on our streets and highways, with their visibility likely to be compromised and their safety put at risk.

‘There have been a number of incidents in recent years recorded by the HSE involving refuse collection lorries, where workers have been killed. It is clear to the Hazards Campaign that refuse collection is a dangerous role which needs a precautionary approach taken. We urge Birmingham City Council to enter meaningful consultations around the unacceptable health and safety risks that have been raised.’

Further information

The legal duty on employers to complete risk assessments, to consult with employees, to take concerns raised seriously and for workers to have the right to remove themselves to a place of safety are all contained in The Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations 1999.

The duty to consult with trade union health and safety representatives on all matters relating to their members’ health and safety is contained in the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977.

The protection of workers against victimisation by their employer for raising health and safety concerns is provided by S44 of The Employment Rights Act 1996.

For more information, press only

Contact: Janet Newsham – Chair UK Hazards Campaign
Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk
Tel: 07734317158
www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

The Hazards Campaign is a UK-wide network of resource centres and campaigners. The Hazards Campaign supports those organising and campaigning for justice and safety at work.

Contact details

The Hazards Campaign
c/o Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
The Wesley Centre
Royce Rd
Manchester M15 5BP
ENGLAND

website www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
twitter @hazardscampaign
Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/123746101003963

News Release – for immediate release – 25/11/25

 UK Hazards Campaign responds to the second report by the Covid-19 Inquiry on the Core decision-making and political governance

In response to the Covid 19 Inquiry second report on the core decision-making and political governance, recently released, the UK Hazards campaign finds the key findings harrowing to read but unsurprising.  Our thoughts are with the families, friends and work colleagues of those who died and those who have been left with long term, life impacting disabilities because of the incompetence, gross negligence and indifference of a government unwilling to act by prioritising people’s health above their political neoliberal agenda.

We reiterate that if enforced correctly, health and safety legislation would have saved lives; that hundreds of thousands of lives would have been protected from infection if the Government and its agencies had acted properly.

Janet Newsham, UK Hazards Campaign Chair asks ‘Who is going to be held accountable for this unforgiveable failing by the UK Government to protect lives?’

We are still living with Covid in our communities and workplaces and the negligence by employers and Government continues to place people at risk.

Early in the pandemic the UK Hazards Campaign wrote to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) urging rigorous enforcement of workplace health and safety law, complemented by specific public health approaches recommended both inside and outside the workplace.

With foresight not hindsight, the Campaign identified both failures in policy and ways to rectify those failures through precautionary action, relying on good science, early and effective interventions, protecting key/essential workers, and more.  This advice was dismissed by the HSE.

The UK Hazards Campaign on the first year anniversary of the pandemic held its own Workers Court which brought together witnesses from across the UK industrial sectors in the trade union and health and safety movement.  This can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MTf64B6u9k .

It is a stark reminder of the first hand experience of safety reps, officers and experts during the first year of the pandemic.  It is also a record of the failings by the Government, HSE and employers in many sectors to prevent the death and disability of workers from the Covid 19 virus.  The final verdict of the court can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rICdGDvcams

The behaviour of the Conservative Government and its Public Health and Occupational Health organisations, including the Health and Safety Executive, grossly neglected the role of workplaces (including education, health and social care settings) in reducing the airborne spread of Covid, and failed to update and enforce health and safety preventions and protections.

In doing so they squandered the lives and health of many workers and condemned many more to long term disability, failed to halt the spread of the virus and the Covid pandemic, which continues now.

So, whilst we welcome this second report by the Covid-19 Inquiry on the Core decision-making and political governance, the UK Hazards Campaign doubts that anything will change for future pandemics, while Governments rule in favour of the elite and global trade above all else and totally neglect workers’ health and safety.

For more information, press only:

Contact: Janet Newsham – Chair UK Hazards Campaign

Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk

Tel: 07734317158

www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

The Hazards Campaign is a UK-wide network of resource centres and campaigners. The Hazards Campaign supports those organising and campaigning for justice and safety at work.

Contact details:

The Hazards Campaign
c/o Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
The Wesley Centre
Royce Rd
Manchester M15 5BP
ENGLAND

website www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

twitter @hazardscampaign

facebook

News release 24 November 2025 – no embargo

“As the workplace harm increases, HSE is turning a blind eye. Inspections last year were 35 per cent lower than a decade ago, with a consistent withdrawal over the period from both its statutory oversight and enforcement duties. The consequence is that as more workers are harmed, fewer negligent employers are being exposed or brought to justice.”

Following the recent publication by the HSE on the annual statistics on work-related ill health, the UK Hazards Campaign accuses the Government and HSE of complacency on the huge toll of work-related ill health on workers. Work related stress, continues to be a major health concern for workers and little is being done to ensure employers are controlling the risks.

Even where a worker has been driven to suicide because of unacceptable bullying, excessive workloads, unrealistic targets and other draconian management practices, the HSE refuses to accept they should be reportable under RIDDOR, investigated and bad employers held to account in the courts or by enforcement action.

On 20th November the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for 2024/2025. (1) The figures include 1.9 million workers suffering from work-related ill health during 2024/2025 which is the highest ever work-related ill-health figure.

In the annual report ‘The Whole Story’ (2) the UK Hazards Campaign states,, these statistics are a conservative estimate of the actual numbers of people harmed by work.

The HSE in 2022 produced a ten year strategy (3) where it said that its role goes beyond worker protection and public safety on a broad range of issues. The UK Hazards Campaign challenges the HSE to show how workers health and safety has improved since 2022.

At their July 2025 Annual General Meeting (4) HSE painted a much rosier picture. Their self-congratulatory reports supposedly showcased their work, but didn’t mention the lack of progress on any of the main issues facing workers health and safety.

In fact, you would have been forgiven for thinking they were doing a lot better than the statistics reveal. David Murray the Director of Finance and Planning at the HSE said they were an ‘effective proportionate regulator dedicated to protecting people and places across Britain’ achieving ‘100 per cent of their milestone commitments set out in the HSE Business Plan’.

The UK Hazards Campaign says ‘As the workplace harm increases, HSE is turning a blind eye. Inspections last year were 35 per cent lower than a decade ago, with a consistent withdrawal over the period from both its statutory oversight and enforcement duties. ‘

‘The consequence is that as more workers are harmed, fewer negligent employers are being exposed or brought to justice.’

The UK Hazards Campaign challenges the Government to set the HSE more ambitious milestones, ones that will see real improvement in the numbers of workers made ill, disabled and killed by work. The UK Hazards Campaign also demands that the HSE institute a more rigorous enforcement policy that holds dangerous and negligent employers to account.

Notes

1. https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/11/20/hse-publishes-annual-workplace-health-and-safety-statistics/

2. https://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Whole-Story-2025-FINAL.pdf

3. https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/assets/docs/the-hse-strategy.pdf

4. https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/attend-a-meeting.htm

For more information, press only:

Contact: Janet Newsham – Chair UK Hazards Campaign
Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk
Tel: 07734317158
www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

The Hazards Campaign is a UK-wide network of resource centres and campaigners. The Hazards Campaign supports those organising and campaigning for justice and safety at work.

Contact details:

The Hazards Campaign
c/o Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
The Wesley Centre
Royce Rd
Manchester M15 5BP
ENGLAND

website www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

twitter @hazardscampaign

facebook

Downing Street petition calling for airborne infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings 

The chair of UK Hazards Campaign, Janet Newsham, will be handing-in a petition at 10 Downing Street on Thursday 26^th June calling for improved new air quality and PPE rules for health and social care settings. Janet who is also the coordinator at Greater Manchester Hazard’s Centre, will be accompanied at Number 10 by representatives from several organisations, including Sioux Vosper, who is a member of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.   Representatives from healthcare organisations will include Jonathan Fluxman from Doctors in Unite union and Dr. Alison Twycross RN, Chair of Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK Charity, Editor-in-Chief of Evidence Based Nursing and Honorary Associate Professor at University of Birmingham, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The petition that they will be handing in is calling for the government to ‘set new rules on air quality and infection control in health and social care settings, to prevent and control airborne infections, with new ventilation and filtration requirements, new PPE standards and staffing rules’ – it also calls for monitoring and inspection to ensure compliance.

In her covering letter with the petition, Janet will be formally requesting a response from the government to the thousands of people who have supported and signed this important petition.

She has also sent this briefing document on the issue to all UK MPs: See link: https://shh-uk.org/get-in-touch-with-your-mp-safeair4all/

In the first few months of 2025, the UK was gripped by a ‘quaddemic’ of flu, covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Many hospital trusts across the country declared critical incidents, asking people to stay away from A and E units for non-urgent treatment, also asking them not to visit if they had symptoms of viral illness and to mask if they did have to come to the hospital.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a new alert on Thursday, 30th January, urging the public to adopt measures such as staying at home and masking up when venturing outside. However, it is notable that UHKSA did not mention airborne spread of any of the viruses or the need to protect patients with airborne infection prevention and control measures within healthcare settings.

Covid, flu and RSV are all airborne diseases and norovirus can be passed on by inhaling virus particles (as well as by direct contact or contaminated surfaces.)  Airborne can mean that the virus is spread by either aerosol particles or droplet particles. This means a person can become infected, either by inhaling aerosol particles that are spreading away from the infected person (like smoke in the air) or respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Although flu and RSV are mainly seasonal, covid remains a threat all year round.

Janet believes that improved airborne infection prevention and control measures in UK healthcare services, could help to reduce the impact of the winter crisis that has affected hospitals and GP surgeries across the country.  The measures will also provide reassurance for clinically vulnerable patients who have no choice but to attend essential medical appointments in hospitals and GP surgeries where the risk of airborne infection is high – particularly as this risk exists year round for Covid-19.

“Hospitals are at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19,” said Janet. “However, they are also environments where the risk of transmission is high, particularly for patients and healthcare workers. This has led to a staffing crisis in our health providers with high staff sickness levels, and dozens leaving the profession with long term disabilities. 

 “The ongoing threat posed by Covid-19 underscores the need for a proactive approach to infection control to reduce the incidence of long-term disabilities and prevent avoidable deaths. Protecting these vital spaces ensures the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens and contributes to the broader effort to stem the tide of this relentless virus. 

 “As we learn to coexist with Covid-19, vigilance and collective action remain our strongest tools in safeguarding public health.  It is critical that the Government takes the action called for in our petition.”

Research carried out on Covid wards at Addenbrooke’s Hospital suggests that air filter machines removed almost all traces of airborne Covid virus. The study was led by a team of doctors, scientists and engineers at Addenbrooke’s and the University of Cambridge in January, at the height of the second wave of the pandemic. Air filtration machines were placed in Covid wards and the air quality analysed with the machines switched on for a week, off for a week, and then on for another week. The team found that with the machines on, it removed almost all traces of airborne SARS-CoV-2.

In recent months an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Long Covid has been set up and separately to this group, a letter was sent to the chair of the Covid Inquiry, to invite her to “make urgent interim recommendations to make healthcare settings safe”.  A reply to this letter was received on 27^th January 2025, from the Right Honourable Baroness Hallett, Chair of the Covid-19 UK Inquiry, in which she declined to make any interim recommendation in Module 3 of the Inquiry.

Prof Colin McKay (Deputy Director for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde) testified recently at the Covid Inquiry that, as early as April 2020, it was increasingly clear to those on the ground that airborne transmission was taking place and that infection control advice was incorrect, leaving staff unprotected.

In September 2024, Dr Barry Jones, Chair of CATA (COVID-19 Airborne Transmission Alliance, which is a Core Participant in the UK COVID-19 Inquiry), gave evidence at the Covid Inquiry about healthcare officials denial of how COVID-19 is transmitted, which has resulted in:

• A failure to protect healthcare workers by providing them with enhanced PPE and adequate ventilation, leading to death and life-changing Long Covid;
• A failure to protect patients, with many contracting the virus in hospital;
• Billions of pounds being wasted on inappropriate PPE.

Kamini Gadhok MBE, former Chief Executive of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Vice Chair of CATA highlighted the wider impact of these failures on the NHS: “The staffing crisis in the NHS has been compounded by Government officials’ blatant disregard for keeping healthcare workers safe during the pandemic, and we’re now seeing the impact this is having on patient care and waiting times.”

ENDS

EDITOR’S NOTES

Janet Newsham Contact: 07734 317158

Email: janetnewsham@googlemail.com

 Posts from X (formerly Twitter) that illustrate patients anxieties about attending medical appointments:

https://x.com/ELHopkins/status/1849774621555376171

https://x.com/JoIsSummer/status/1865453048379621798

 This ‘MegaThread’ has clips of video evidence given at the Covid-19 UK Inquiry

https://x.com/_CatintheHat/status/1860781843244634365

 UKHSA posts on Thursday 30^th January:

New Alert post: https://x.com/UKHSA/status/1884888051748368629

Link to Addenbrooke’s research article:

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/news/air-filters-on-wards-remove-almost-all-airborne-covid-virus/

**Link to Mirror Online article about UKHSA new alert on 30^th January: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/urgent-new-stay-home-wear-34580964

Prof. Colin Mckay’s testimony at the Covid Inquiry:    https://x.com/_CatintheHat/status/1860783278464114927

 Information about the Long Covid APPG:
https://joplatt.com/news/2024/12/11/jo-platt-becomes-chair-of-the-all-party-parliamentary-group-for-long-covid/

Letter to chair of Covid Inquiry:
https://x.com/LongCovidSOS/status/1870061604781298062

Links about covid being an airborne disease – information from the covid inquiry was taken from this link: https://www.rcslt.org/news/evidence-given-at-uk-covid-19-inquiry/#:~:text=On%2012%20September%2C%20evidence%20was,ongoing%20investigation%20into%20these%20issues.

Dr. Lisa Ritchie – IPC Lead for NHS England – Still believes that the primary mode of transmission for Covid-19 is droplet and contact.  Professor Clive Beggs testifies in the second part of this video that the primary mode of transmission is ”predominantly by an airborne route”:  Watch video: https://x.com/_CatintheHat/status/1884951090162016643

Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) Statement on inquest into the death of Ruth Perry Head Teacher of Caversham Primary School Coroner’s conclusion: Suicide contributed to by an Ofsted inspection.

News release – no embargo – 7 December 2023

On behalf of Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK), facilitator Hilda Palmer said today:

“There must be massive and constructive change from this painful process and Ruth’s death must be the ‘enough is enough’ moment, no more Ofsted deaths.

“The Coroner made clear that the’ inner workings of Ofsted’ were not in scope for the Inquest, but teachers reports and evidence heard makes clear it is not only the conduct of the inspections that causes acute stress but the fear of the high stakes consequences.  A bad one word judgement can lead to forced academisation of your school, loss of your job, reputation, career with no realistic chance to defend yourself or challenge Ofsted errors of fact or judgement. The weeks of delay between the inspection draft report and publication of report during which time Heads are not permitted, on threat of action against them, to speak to anyone outside of a tiny circle, even a mental health professional, puts intolerable stress on Head Teachers.

“We welcome the conclusions of the Berkshire Chief Coroner, Heidi Connor, based on a finding of facts that Ruth Pery’s death was suicide contributed to by an Ofsted inspection in November 2022, and unequivocally linking her deteriorating state of mind and death to the Ofsted inspection which was at times ‘rude & intimidating, lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity’.

“Ruth was a remarkable woman and a successful, well respected and much liked Head Teacher running an outstanding popular school, committed to the good education safety and welfare of the children.

“She was also much more than this, a much loved and loving wife, mother, sister and daughter, and a friend to many. She worked hard and achieved great things and had no history of mental ill health. All that changed within minutes of the Ofsted Inspection beginning and the loss to her family, friends and Caversham Primary School children and parents is immensely painful.

“At the inquest, Professor Julia Waters, Ruth’s sister,  bravely and eloquently painted a beautiful picture of her beloved sister and her rich and happy life, in words from her parents, her husband and herself and ended with: “We shall feel her terrible loss for the rest of our lives”.

“We are sorry that the coroner refused a renewed Article 2 application from the family, which would mean the state have to carry out an ‘enhanced investigation’ into a death as she said she does not have ‘sufficient concern about systems to protect life’.

And FACK renews its demands that all families have free legal representation provided for Inquests to ‘ensure equality arms’ when they face employers and state funded organisations and are able to challenge, to question and get the answers they need..

“We welcome the Coroner’s Conclusion and her Regulation 28 Preventing Future Deaths recommendations.to Ofsted and the Local Authority and. her hope that the Parliamentary Education Committee and Secretary of State will also consider her findings.

“We believe Ruth’s death and those of other teachers might have been prevented had concern about the suicides of other teachers related to Ofsted over the years been taken more seriously, investigated and acted upon preventatively by the Health and Safety Executive, HSE, Ofsted and Local Authorities when they happened. And we believe it is also essential that the HSE records, investigates and acts to prevent all work-related suicides in schools and all workplaces, something it refuses to do currently.

“After hearing evidence during the Inquest we are even more sceptical that Ofsted can be reformed. It should be scrapped and replaced by a cooperative, collaborative and supportive inspection system, which is accountable and effective in improving schools without destroying the health and lives of teachers.

“Nothing will bring Ruth back, but knowing that stringent efforts are being demanded of the organisations which had a role in her death, and of other related organisations, to prevent the deaths of other teachers in future is an outcome that Ruth’s family wanted. Julia Waters, Ruth’s sister, has fearlessly and eloquently exposed the unbearable and unfair stress of Ofsted inspections, the lack of protection and redress for Head Teachers, given thousands of teachers a chance to speak out, made their concerns a subject of public debate and investigation ever since Ruth’s death. We thank Julia and her family for all they have done to stop Ofsted deaths.

“FACK, Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, Hazards Campaign and Hazards Magazine pledge ourselves to continue the campaign to make all work suicides reportable, investigated and preventive action taken. No one should be driven to deaths of despair by work.”

For more information contact Hilda Palmer 079298 00240 hilda@gmhazards.org.uk

Notes to Editors

Papers and articles relating to Work-Suicide and the problem of the HSE refusing to record or investigate the causes and prevent them.

• Professor Sarah Waters, Hilda Palmer Work Suicides are uncounted: https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/languages/news/article/1866/work-related-suicides-are-uncounted

• Waters and McKee, BMJ, Ofsted and case of official negligence? https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/381/bmj.p1147.full.pdf

• Waters and Palmer, Journal of Public Health Dying at work. Work-related suicide – how does the UK regulatory context measure up? https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JPMH-09-2021-0114/full/html

• Our postcard campaign to the HSE over many years saw thousands of postcards delivered by mail to the CEO and now is an ecard campaign: https://www.hazards.org/hsesuicide/ • Rory O’Neill Hazards Latest article : https://www.hazards.org/suicide/wedespair.htm • Earlier articles: https://www.hazards.org/suicide/suicidalwork.htm • https://www.hazards.org/suicide/pressuregrows

Founder Members of FACK:

Dawn and Paul Adams – son Samuel Adams aged 6 killed at Trafford Centre, 10th October 1998

Linzi Herbertson -husband Andrew Herbertson 29, killed at work in Oldham, January 1998

Mike and Lynne Hutin – son Andrew Hutin 20, killed at work at Corus, Port Talbot on 8th Nov 2001

Mick & Bet Murphy – son Lewis Murphy 18, killed at work in Brighton on 21st February 2004

Louise Taggart – brother Michael Adamson 26, killed at work ion Aberdeen, on 4th August 2005

Linda Whelan – son Craig Whelan 23, (and Paul Wakefield) killed at work in Bolton on 23rd May 2002

Dorothy & Douglas Wright – son Mark Wright 37, killed at work in Deeside on 13th April 2005