The case of a worker who was fatally crushed on a construction site is the inspiration behind a new Bill aimed at preventing companies going into administration to escape punishment following a death or serious injury.

The Irish Health and Safety Authority is to focus on high-risk sectors this year, after the number of work-related deaths in the country in 2011 went up for the second year in a row.

An influential group of MPs has called on the Government to embark on the phased removal of asbestos from all schools to protect teachers, staff and children from the dust’s potentially harmful effects.

A charity has written to the Government calling for a greater focus on alcohol issues in the workplace, which, it says, have a major negative impact on productivity.

Network Rail has pleaded guilty to three breaches of safety legislation in relation to the deaths of two teenagers at a level crossing in Essex six years ago.

The Government has launched a consultation today (23 January) that represents the first step in its bid to reduce health and safety legislation by half over the next two years.

A construction worker who lost a case against a major firm that admitted blacklisting him for union activities and raising health and safety concerns may go to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that UK law does not sufficiently protect agency workers.

A parliamentary select committee has criticised a major Government agency for using health and safety as a “routine” excuse for not following recommended procedures.

The HSE is inviting the public to inform it about absurd claims, or decisions made by non-regulators that bring health and safety into disrepute, so that a new dedicated challenge panel can quickly disprove them.

A research body that has funded some of the most important studies in the field of occupational health and safety in the last 20 years has announced it is to wind down because of a lack of financial support in the current economic climate.