Health and safety | UK Regulatory Outlook June 2025

Sentencing Council confirms amendments to the sentencing guidelines for very large organisations 

The Sentencing Council has announced amendments to the sentencing guidelines for health and safety, food safety, food hygiene, and corporate manslaughter offences, specifically targeting Very Large Organisations (VLOs).  

These changes aim to provide clearer direction for courts when sentencing organisations with turnovers significantly exceeding £50 million. The amendments state that courts should consider finings outside the range for large companies, ensuring that penalties are proportionate to the organisation's financial circumstances and the seriousness of the offence (rather than the previous guidance that they "may" consider doing so.  

While the wording changes may imply higher fines for VLOs, in practice, the impact is likely to be minimal as judges already consider VLOs separately from large organisations. Read our Insight for more.  

BSI launches consultation on UK's first workplace suicide standard 

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a public consultation on BS 30480, the UK’s first proposed workplace standard which focuses on suicide awareness, prevention, and education.  

The standard provides guidance for organisations and managers on preventing, intervening and supporting individuals affected by suicide in the workplace. It includes policies and systematic practices for those experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours or supporting someone affected by suicide. Informed by data, research and lived experiences, it outlines necessary processes, monitoring methods and adjustments to maintain effectiveness. It also advises on sensitive communication, especially with those bereaved by suicide, and offers support strategies. 

Applicable to all organisations, regardless of size or type, it covers the public sector (for example, educational institutions, police services, NHS), the voluntary sector (such as charities, faith settings), and the business sector (for example, construction, financial services). It is of use for managers, HR teams, health and safety teams, occupational health teams and those responsible for organisational health, well-being, diversity and inclusion. It excludes statutory safeguarding responsibilities and medical guidance outside the workplace but references relevant sources. 

The consultation closes on 16 July 2025. 

Building Safety Act: Criteria for determining a higher-risk building remains unclear  

The government has updated its guidance on the legal criteria for determining whether a new building is considered a higher-risk building (HRB), in response to the First-tier Tribunal decision that a roof garden constitutes a storey (reported here). Despite this decision, the guidance maintains that open rooftop gardens are not considered a storey for the purpose of determining whether a building is an HRB. However, there is an acknowledgement that this question requires clarity through amendment to the current regulations, and that there are ongoing consultations between the government, Building Safety Regulator and other relevant stakeholders in this regard. See our Insight for more.