February 19th, 2026

Safety in Numbers: How a Sector-Wide Partnership is Rewriting the Rulebook

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HSE code cuts back on unnecessary inspections

A new code designed to prevent unnecessary health and safety inspections has been published by the Health and Safety Executive.

The LA National Code sets out the risk-based approach that local authority regulators must now follow when pursuing safety interventions.

Council inspections will centre on higher risk activities in specified sectors or where intelligence suggests that workplaces are not properly managing risk.

“Real Improvements”

HSE chair Judith Hackitt said the code meant that “real improvements” in safety performance would come from targeting businesses “who put their employees at greatest risk”.

“Local inspectors have a very important role to play in ensuring the effective and proportionate management of risks by businesses, and the Code is designed to guide them to do this”, she explained.

Ms Hackitt continued: “The code sets out how targeting should be achieved, providing certainty for both businesses and regulators. HSE will be working with local authorities to ensure the Code is successfully implemented.”

The LA National Code means that businesses, such as shops and offices, will only face inspections where there is a justified safety risk.

The HSE assures that checks will continue on poor performers and at sites which house higher risk activities.

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