As August draws to a close, workplaces often experience a shift — staff return from holidays, workloads increase, and the first hints of autumn begin to influence both behaviour and risk. This week is the perfect time to tighten controls, refresh awareness, and prepare for the busy compliance season ahead.
Late August is when equipment starts showing signs of accumulated summer stress.
A quick round of targeted inspections now prevents faults from escalating in September.
With cooler mornings and warmer afternoons, workplaces often see inconsistent heating and ventilation use — a known contributor to fire risks.
If you have EV charging on site, this is a good week to revisit your EV charger risk assessment and ensure connectors, housings, and cable routing remain safe.
The final week of August often brings a noticeable shift in staff wellbeing.
Your Mental Health First Aiders should stay visible and proactive this week, encouraging early conversations and promoting realistic workloads.
End‑of‑summer disorganisation is common — temporary setups, holiday‑mode tidying, and “I’ll sort that next week” piles.
A tidy workplace is a safe workplace — especially before September’s compliance push.
September is one of the busiest months for audits, inspections, and training refreshers. Use this week to get ahead.
A little preparation now prevents the September scramble.
The last week of August is a transition period — quieter than September, but full of small risks that build up over summer. A focused safety reset this week keeps your workplace compliant, organised, and ready for the busy season ahead.
As we move toward the end of August, workplaces often fall into that strange seasonal gap — it’s still warm, people are still drifting in and out on annual leave, and yet September (and all its compliance demands) is already peeking over the horizon.
It’s the perfect moment to refocus on practical, everyday safety behaviours that tend to slip during late summer.
Even when temperatures start to dip, residual heat and humidity can still affect tools, machinery, and electrical equipment.
Late summer is notorious for “it’ll be fine” thinking — until it isn’t.
With staff rotating through holidays, housekeeping standards often dip.
A quick housekeeping sweep at the start and end of each shift prevents the classic late‑summer spike in minor accidents.
August is a smart time to review fire safety basics before the busy autumn period.
If your workplace uses EV chargers, late summer heat can increase cable and connector wear — a good moment to revisit your EV charging risk assessment.
Late August often brings a quiet but noticeable mental health slump:
This is where Mental Health First Aiders play a vital role.
Mental health first aid is not seasonal — but August is a month where it becomes especially valuable.
September is one of the busiest compliance months of the year. Use this week to get ahead:
A little preparation now prevents the classic September scramble.
Late summer is a deceptively risky period — quieter, slower, and full of small oversights that can snowball into bigger issues. A few targeted checks this week keep your workplace safe, compliant, and ready for the busy season ahead.
When a fire breaks out, every second counts. Having the correct fire extinguisher in the right place can make the difference between a minor incident and a devastating fire. However, having an extinguisher isn’t enough – it must be the correct type, properly maintained, and users should know when and how to use it safely.
Are Powder Fire Extinguishers Now Banned Indoors?
This is one of the biggest questions we’re asked.
The simple answer is no – powder extinguishers are not banned and there is no legislation making it illegal to have them inside buildings.
However, British Standard BS 5306-8 now recommends that powder extinguishers should not be installed inside enclosed premises unless there is a specific risk that makes them necessary. This guidance is widely followed throughout the fire safety industry.
Why are they no longer recommended indoors?
Although dry powder extinguishers are highly effective, they can create significant problems inside buildings:
Today, powder extinguishers are generally recommended for:
Which Fire Extinguisher Do You Need?
💧 Water Extinguisher
Best for:
Ideal for offices, schools, shops and general workplaces.
Never use on:
🫧 Foam Extinguisher
Best for:
Commonly found in offices, warehouses and commercial premises.
Avoid using on:
⚫ CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)
Best for:
CO₂ leaves no residue, making it ideal where protecting equipment is important.
Not suitable for:
🟡 Wet Chemical
Best for:
These are specifically designed for Class F fires and are essential in restaurants, takeaways and catering facilities.
🔵 Dry Powder
Best for:
Although versatile, these are generally not recommended for indoor enclosed spaces unless a fire risk assessment identifies a specific need.
Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips
Remember the PASS method:
P – Pull the safety pin.
A – Aim at the base of the fire.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep from side to side.
Most importantly:
Fire Safety Facts
Don’t Forget Maintenance
A fire extinguisher is only effective if it works when you need it.
Responsible persons should ensure extinguishers:
Final Thoughts
Fire extinguishers are an essential part of any fire safety strategy, but choosing the correct type is just as important as having one in the first place.
While powder extinguishers remain legal, current British Standard guidance recommends avoiding their use inside enclosed premises because of the risks they pose to occupants. In most offices, shops and commercial buildings, modern water-based, foam, CO₂ or wet chemical extinguishers provide a safer and more appropriate solution.
If you’re unsure whether your premises have the correct extinguishers, a professional fire risk assessment and extinguisher survey can ensure you’re fully protected and compliant.
Contact us for further information.
Health and safety training ensures employees understand hazards, know how to work safely, and can respond effectively when something goes wrong. It’s the foundation of a safe workplace and a legal obligation under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires employers to provide “information, instruction, training and supervision” to protect staff.
Training is also proven to work. Over the past 50 years, systematic safety training has contributed to an 85% reduction in workplace fatalities in the UK.
Employers have clear legal duties, including:
Failure to meet these duties can result in unlimited fines, prohibition notices, and even imprisonment under the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007.
Employees also play a vital role in maintaining safety. Their responsibilities include:
A trained employee is more confident, more productive, and far less likely to be involved in an incident.
The consequences of inadequate training are both human and financial:
In the UK alone, employers lose £42–£45 billion each year due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover — much of which is preventable through proper training.
Effective health and safety training leads to:
Health and safety training isn’t just a box-ticking exercise — it’s a strategic investment that protects people, strengthens businesses, and ensures legal compliance. The statistics make one thing clear: training saves lives, reduces costs, and builds better workplaces.
Contact us for further information.
Guest Blogging
If you feel that you could contribute to this blog then please feel free to send me a proposal of your guest blogging ideas and we can discuss these further info@walkersafety.co.uk . Please note any proposals must be of benefit to my readers from individuals with knowledge of their subject matter.
Guest Blog – David Tilsley-Curtis of 3JB Ltd
Helping Engineering Managers, Safety Managers and Duty Holders ensure work at height equipment is inspected, maintained and used safely in compliance with PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations.
What do PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations tell us?
Regulation 6 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) places a duty on employers and those in control of work equipment to ensure that equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration is inspected by a competent person at suitable intervals.
In addition, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) require that equipment used for working at height is suitable for its intended purpose, maintained in a safe condition and inspected at appropriate intervals.
Regulation 12 specifically requires that must be rigorously inspected by a competent person on a regular basis, especially after being exposed to conditions liable to cause deterioration which could result in dangerous situations is inspected by a competent person.
Neither PUWER nor WAHR provides a precise definition of a “competent person”, leaving employers responsible for ensuring the individual carrying out inspections has the appropriate knowledge, training and experience.
What is the purpose of a Work at Height Equipment Inspection?
The purpose of inspecting work at height equipment is to confirm that it remains safe for continued use, that deterioration can be identified before it presents a risk, and that appropriate remedial action is taken where defects are found.
Inspection is intended to determine whether equipment can continue to be used safely, rather than confirming that it is always being used safely. Safe use depends on many other factors, including planning, supervision, user competence and adherence to safe systems of work.
Equipment commonly requiring inspection includes:
• Podium steps
• Mobile access towers
• Portable Ladders and stepladders
• Mobile platforms /gantries
• Fixed Ladders
• Edge Handrailing
• Safety harnesses and lanyards
• Foxed access platforms and walkways
Regular inspections form one part of an effective work at height management system alongside maintenance, operator training, pre-use checks and suitable risk assessments.
How do you identify a Competent Person to carry out Work at Height Equipment Inspections?
Both PUWER and WAHR require inspections to be completed by a person with sufficient knowledge and experience to recognise defects, assess their significance and determine appropriate action.
For work at height equipment, this competence typically includes knowledge of:
• The manufacturer’s intended use, inspection criteria and maintenance requirements.
• Relevant legislation including PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations.
• Current industry guidance, British Standards and HSE publications relating to work at height equipment.
• Inspection methods appropriate to the type of equipment being examined.
• Risk assessment principles to determine whether defects require immediate withdrawal from service or controlled continued use.
Evidence of competence may include recognised qualifications, manufacturer training, IPAF, PASMA or Ladder Association training (where appropriate), engineering qualifications and documented experience in designing and certifying similar equipment.
Can inspections be carried out in-house?
Yes.
Many organisations successfully carry out inspections using competent in-house personnel, provided they have:
• Experience with the equipment being inspected.
• Knowledge of deterioration mechanisms and common failure points.
• Understanding of current legal requirements and industry best practice.
• Knowledge of the BS or EN standard appropriate to the equipment being inspected.
• The ability to identify defects and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
Where sufficient competence is not available internally, employers should appoint an independent third-party inspection provider with demonstrable expertise.
Although inspections may be outsourced, the legal duty to ensure inspections are completed remains with the employer or person in control of the equipment. This responsibility cannot be transferred.
What does “Necessary Experience” mean?
For straightforward equipment such as ladders or podium steps, experienced supervisors or maintenance personnel may possess sufficient knowledge to complete inspections, provided they understand the inspection criteria and manufacturer recommendations.
More complex equipment—including MEWPs, fall arrest systems, suspended access equipment or anchor points—often requires specialist knowledge and formal training and will most often come under the LOLER requirements.
Necessary experience includes understanding:
• How the equipment functions.
• Typical wear, fatigue and deterioration mechanisms.
• Manufacturer inspection requirements.
• Relevant British Standards and HSE guidance.
• Safe operating limitations.
• The consequences of defects or misuse.
This experience enables inspectors to distinguish between cosmetic issues, maintenance requirements and defects that make equipment unsafe.
Determining Inspection Requirements
The Health and Safety Executive recognises that determining what should be inspected, how inspections should be carried out, and how often inspections are required demands a different level of competence from carrying out the inspection itself.
Appointed Person for Determining Inspection Requirements
This individual should understand:
• Which equipment requires formal inspection.
• What each inspection should include.
• Whether functional testing is necessary.
• Inspection intervals based on manufacturer recommendations, frequency of use and operating conditions.
• Applicable legal and industry requirements.
Appointed Person for Carrying Out Inspections
The individual carrying out inspections should understand:
• The construction and operation of the equipment.
• Inspection techniques appropriate for that equipment.
• Common defects and deterioration mechanisms.
• Acceptance and rejection criteria.
• Appropriate reporting procedures.
• When equipment must be withdrawn from service immediately.
Inspection findings should be clearly documented, with defects prioritised according to risk and suitable corrective actions recommended.
How do I check the competence of Third-Party Inspection Companies?
Before appointing an external inspection provider, employers should verify that inspectors possess appropriate competence for the equipment being inspected.
Areas to consider include:
Relevant Technical Knowledge
Inspectors should have demonstrable engineering or technical competence relating to work at height equipment.
Examples include:
• Engineering qualifications
• Engineering knowledge of the design standards
• PASMA experience
• Ladder experience
• Manufacturer-specific inspection training
• Experience inspecting similar equipment
Equipment-Specific Experience
Inspectors should understand not only the equipment itself but also how it is used within your workplace, including environmental factors that may affect deterioration.
Health and Safety Competence
Inspectors should possess appropriate health and safety knowledge through recognised qualifications or significant practical experience.
Why is it important to verify inspector competence?
Both PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations require inspections to be carried out by competent persons.
Employers therefore have a legal duty to ensure that anyone carrying out inspections has the necessary training, knowledge and experience before inspections begin.
For in-house inspectors, competence can normally be demonstrated through:
• Training records.
• Qualifications.
• Experience.
• Job role descriptions.
• Supervised inspection history.
For external providers, competence should be assessed as part of supplier approval and procurement processes.
Simply requesting copies of qualifications is not sufficient. Employers should ensure qualifications remain current, are relevant to the equipment being inspected and are supported by appropriate practical experience.
Failure to verify competence could expose an organisation to enforcement action, increased liability and unnecessary risk should equipment fail or an accident occur.
Supporting Compliance
Effective inspection programmes help organisations demonstrate compliance with both PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations while reducing the risk of equipment failure and falls from height.
Whether inspections are completed internally or by an external specialist, employers should ensure inspections are planned, documented, risk-based and carried out by genuinely competent persons.
Professional inspection providers can also assist with inspection scheduling, written reports, defect prioritisation, compliance audits and training to help organisations maintain safe work at height equipment throughout its service life.
If you have any questions, contact us or Dave at 3JB Ltd.
Guest Blogging
If you feel that you could contribute to this blog then please feel free to send me a proposal of your guest blogging ideas and we can discuss these further info@walkersafety.co.uk . Please note any proposals must be of benefit to my readers from individuals with knowledge of their subject matter.
