Another sad story..... why are these accidents and incidents like this still happening?
- kira Bennett
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Ensuring comprehensive coverage in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing (HSW) isn’t just a tick-box exercise—it’s a fundamental duty to protect lives and livelihoods.
The recent incident where an apprentice’s thumb was severed during a luxury hotel renovation painfully illustrates this. Despite insurers, company policies, and regulations like PUWER being in place, the absence of effective risk assessments, training, and supervision led to a life-altering injury and hefty fines against the company!
Ensuring that comprehensive training is delivered—especially for trainees and apprentices—is one of the most critical aspects of health and safety management. Young and inexperienced workers are often the most vulnerable on site, lacking the practical understanding of risks that more seasoned employees develop over time. Without proper instruction, supervision, and confidence to ask questions, they can easily overlook hazards or misuse equipment. Effective training not only teaches the correct techniques and procedures but also builds a mindset where safety is a personal responsibility, encouraging them to stop and think before they act. This creates a safer working environment for everyone.
Closely linked to this is compliance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). PUWER requires that any equipment provided is suitable, maintained in a safe condition, and used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction, and training. This is absolutely crucial for trainees and apprentices, who may be unfamiliar with the machinery’s risks. Ensuring PUWER compliance means going beyond a checklist—making sure guards are in place, controls are properly labelled, and most importantly, that no one operates equipment unless they are trained and deemed competent to do so.
Ultimately, health and safety must be paramount because it is about protecting lives and futures. A serious incident can change a young person’s entire life trajectory in an instant, affecting not just them but their families, colleagues, and the company’s reputation. Prioritising rigorous training and PUWER compliance demonstrates a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing and fosters a culture where everyone looks out for each other. That’s how organisations not only meet legal obligations but truly live out their moral duty of care.
This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about preventing trauma, financial loss, reputational damage, and, most importantly, protecting people.
So, are you 110% confident you’re compliant?
Proper HSW management requires identifying hazards, guarding dangerous equipment, delivering targeted training, and enforcing safe systems of work—all consistently and actively monitored. If any of those elements slip—even momentarily—the consequences can be devastating. Full compliance means no shortcuts, ongoing vigilance, and embedding safety into every process.
That’s the difference between a system that merely exists and one that truly safeguards everyone involved.
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