01278 228004

Chamber News

You are here: 

Weekly Digest Ebulletin

Thursday 19th December, 2024

Tackle work-related stress with HSE’s Working Minds campaign

HSE’s annual statistics were recently published and highlight that stress, depression or anxiety account for about half of work-related ill health cases.

That’s an estimated 776,000 cases, with each case meaning an average of 21.1 days being taken off work.

Download the stress statistics booklet to see the work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain for 2024

Stepping into 2025, make good mental health at work a priority by tackling stress. 

HSE’s Working Minds campaign is here to support that goal. Use our free tools and resources to learn about workplace stress, how to assess the risk and what steps to take:

Prisoner died after company failed to manage legionella risk

The company was fined £600,000 after it failed to manage the risk of legionella bacteria in the hot and cold water systems at a prison.

The inmate died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease while serving a prison sentence.

HSE’s investigation found that the facilities management company failed to:

  • act on a risk assessment carried out in 2016
  • put in place a written scheme for preventing and controlling legionella risks
  • ensure that appropriate water temperatures were maintained
  • monitor water temperatures in the water system

Read more in our press release: prisoner died after company failed to manage legionella risk.

You can visit our news centre for more on recent enforcement cases, which include:

Working safely in confined spaces

Every year a number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces in Great Britain.

A confined space is a place:

  • which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely)
  • where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby

HSE’s website has guidance about the hazards of working in confined spaces and how to manage the risks

You can download our Approved Code of Practice: Safe work in confined spaces. This publication:

  • helps you put precautions in place for work to be carried out safely
  • provides examples of confined spaces

Latest job vacancies at HSE

Join HSE to develop your career and help protect lives and livelihoods.

We currently have a range of vacancies, which include:

Latest news

Christmas crafters urged to check tax rules
November 13, 2025

Side hustlers selling festive items need to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online if earnings exceed £1,000 a year HMRC's Help for Hustles campaign supports people earning extra income during festive season to understand tax obligations Online checker tool can clarify if and when side hustlers need to report their additional income People making…

Read More
New Charity Shops Empower Somerset’s Youth Through Creativity and Enterprise
November 7, 2025

Two new charity gift shops are set to open in Taunton and Bridgwater this month, offering more than just handmade gifts; they’re providing young people with life-changing opportunities.  Operated by Young Somerset, the Bold & Brave shops will officially launch on Tuesday, 18th November, with ribbon-cutting ceremonies and community celebrations planned at both locations. The Taunton shop which…

Read More
New footage shows impressive progress at Agratas’ Somerset battery facility
November 6, 2025

Agratas has shared dramatic aerial footage capturing construction progress at its battery manufacturing facility in Bridgwater, Somerset. The multi-billion-pound project is set to be the biggest of its kind in the UK and will play a pivotal role in advancing clean technology and sustainable energy, producing battery cells destined for electric vehicles and energy storage…

Read More
It’s not too late to enter the Somerset Business Awards 2026!
November 4, 2025

If you’ve entered the Sedgemoor Business Awards you still have time to submit your application for the Somerset Business Awards 2026, too! Organised annually by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, the awards are free to enter and businesses do not need to be a member of the Chamber to take part. Leading accountancy firm, Albert Goodman,…

Read More