EDITOR'S NOTE


Hello and welcome to the Tomorrow’s Health & Safety Yearbook 2025/6.


Over the past 12 months, health and safety professionals have faced an evolving landscape shaped by changing workplace dynamics, regulatory updates, and emerging risks. As hybrid working becomes the norm, employers have had to rethink how to manage health and safety obligations beyond the traditional workplace. This includes ensuring that remote workers have safe and ergonomic home setups, while also addressing rising concerns around mental health, isolation, and burnout.


One of the most pressing issues has been the increasing attention to psychosocial risks. Stress, anxiety, and fatigue have become key areas of concern across sectors, prompting organisations to implement more comprehensive wellbeing strategies. The growing recognition of mental health as a core component of occupational safety reflects a necessary cultural shift. However, many organisations still lack the resources or frameworks to manage these challenges effectively.


To help employers get to grips with risk assessment of work-related stress, the HSE launched a free online learning module this May, expanding its Working Minds campaign. The module provides all the practical templates, tools and resources needed to get started or to review existing practices and employers can register on the Working Minds website.


Meanwhile, regulatory bodies across the UK, EU, and beyond have continued to strengthen safety enforcement. Notable developments include a renewed focus on building safety in the wake of the Grenfell Inquiry, and updated guidance on risk assessments in high-risk sectors like construction, logistics, and manufacturing.


The rise of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has also made health and safety performance more visible to investors and the public, putting greater pressure on employers to demonstrate compliance and ethical practices.


Looking ahead to the next 12 months, AI and automation will bring both opportunities and new risks. While these technologies can reduce human error and improve hazard detection, they also require new competencies and raise ethical concerns around surveillance and job displacement. Health and safety leaders will need to navigate this technological shift carefully, balancing innovation with worker welfare.


This challenge is explored further by IOSH’s Saeed Ahmadi in his article on page 8 as he questions whether employers should be seeking to go beyond compliance when it comes to protecting their people. Safety and health maturity goes further than mere adherence to laws, he explains. It involves nurturing a proactive, people- centred culture where safety is embedded in every aspect of operations.


As the definition of health & safety continues to expand, the year ahead will demand a proactive, people-focused approach that integrates physical, mental, and digital safety into every facet of work.


As always, Tomorrow’s Health & Safety will continue to keep you updated each step of the way in our regular issues but we do hope that this Yearbook will serve as a valuable resource over the next 12 months.


Here’s to a safe and productive year for us all!


Sarah Robinson, Editor


Ryan Lloyd, Editor


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TOMORROW’S HEALTH & SAFETY YEARBOOK 2025/26


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