Top 3 Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing Issues for 2025

Topical Issues/Health, Safety and Wellbeing News July 2025

So what’s new on the health, safety and wellbeing news front for UK workplaces?

1. Mental Health as a Core Safety Concern:

The HSE’s annual statistics report is always a good source for overall trends in work-related illness and injury.
Recent finding: 1.7 million working people suffering from work-related illness. Among them, 776,000 are suffering from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety (HSE Annual Statistics, referenced by HSE Network, Feb 2025).

There is an increased legal and ethical focus on treating mental health with the same seriousness as physical hazards. Consequently, employers are expected to carry out mental health risk assessments.

• Emerging Issue: The ongoing challenge of stigma and ensuring effective support, especially for younger generations (Gen Z) who report higher stress levels. The integration of mental health first aiders is gaining traction although there is some controversy around this type of service (see article: are mental health first aiders a good idea).
• Recent Articles/Guidance:
  • HSE Guidance on Work-related Stress: The HSE’s Management Standards approach to Work-related Stress remains the cornerstone. It outlines six key areas of work design that can impact stress: Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role, and Change.
    • See: HSE Management Standards for Work-related Stress
  • Acas Guidance on Mental Health and the Law: Provides practical advice for employers on their duty of care, risk assessments, reasonable adjustments, and preventing discrimination related to mental health.
    • See: Acas Mental Health at Work Guidance
  • BritSafe / Dräger Safety and Health at Work (DHSAW) report 2024/2025: Highlights that 81% of respondents believe mental health and wellbeing are intrinsically linked to safety at work and must be managed together.
    • Reference: 5 trends to watch in the safety sector in 2025 British Safety Council
      

      Smiling worker

2. Impact of Climate Change on Workplace Safety:

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality affecting UK workplaces through extreme weather, rising temperatures, and other environmental factors.

• Emerging Issue: The need for organisations to adapt safety plans, risk assessments, and training to address increased risks like heat stress, poor air quality, and the aftermath of severe weather events (e.g., flooding, storms). Impact on supply chains and mental wellbeing (stress/anxiety due to job insecurity or disrupted work).
• Recent Articles/Guidance:
  • British Safety Council (Britsafe): Discusses how hotter summers, poor air quality, flooding, and supply chain disruptions affect physical and mental wellbeing.
    • Reference: Ensuring Safety & Health at Work in a Changing Climate 2025 (Britsafe Blog, June 2025)
  • House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report (2024): Warned of up to 10,000 excess deaths annually in the UK due to heatwaves and a spike in work-related injuries. Recommended a national heat resilience plan.
    • Reference: How does climate change impact Occupational Safety and Health?

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health, Safety and Wellbeing:

AI is rapidly developing and has the potential to transform health, safety and wellbeing, both creating new risks and offering significant benefits.

• Emerging Issue: The ethical considerations, data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for human oversight alongside AI implementation. HSE’s approach is to regulate the use of AI where it impacts health and safety, rather than specific AI technologies themselves.
• Recent Articles/Guidance:
  • HSE’s Regulatory Approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI): The HSE is actively developing its approach, focusing on risk assessment and control. They expect risk assessments to be undertaken for uses of AI impacting H&S.
  • Articles on AI’s Role in Predicting and Preventing Hazards: Discussions are ongoing about how AI can monitor equipment, identify unsafe behaviours, and enhance predictive maintenance, moving from reactive to proactive safety.
    • Reference: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Build Safer Workplaces” (DWF, June 2025).

See Also:

• Neurodiversity in the Workplace:  ACAS provides comprehensive information on different neurodivergent conditions and how employers can create a neuroinclusive workplace, including making reasonable adjustments.
• Hybrid and Remote Working Risks: The shift to flexible working is now standard, but employer responsibilities for health and safety extend to home environments. Ensure thorough remote workstations (DSE) assessments, addressing mental wellbeing in isolated settings, and maintaining clear communication and support for dispersed teams.

In the dynamic landscape of workplace health, safety, and wellbeing, staying informed isn’t just beneficial – it’s essential. Managers must navigate the complexities of mental health and climate change impacts. At the same time, they should embrace the opportunities and challenges of AI and neurodiversity. Thus, the world of health, safety and wellbeing in UK workplaces is constantly evolving.

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