Construction Safety

England Amends Responsible Actors Scheme Building Control Prohibitions and Exceptions

From 1 June 2026, the UK tightens the Building Safety Responsible Actors Scheme by refining the building control prohibitions and exceptions that apply to developers on the prohibitions list and by allowing affected purchasers to seek limited relief. These changes will matter for developers and purchasers involved in higher‑risk residential schemes in England, who should reassess how the revised prohibitions, emergency repair and occupied‑building exemptions, and new purchaser exception affect project phasing, sales and completion risk.

15 May 2026, 16:20legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

HSE Prosecutes Willow Services (Southern) Ltd After Roofer Falls Through Unguarded Loft Hatch

On 30 April 2026, an HSE prosecution led to a £20,000 fine and costs against Willow Services (Southern) Ltd for breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 after a roofer suffered life‑changing injuries in a fall through an unguarded loft hatch. The case underscores that even small construction projects must rigorously plan and supervise work at height, identify and guard fragile openings, and follow HSE guidance or risk severe enforcement, liability and operational disruption.

15 May 2026, 13:41press.hse.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Louisiana Senate Committee Backs HB 1103 Expanding Industrial Facility Building-Code Exemptions

In May 2026, the Louisiana Senate Commerce Committee reported HB 1103 favourably, advancing a bill to expand state building-code exemptions and pre-empt local permitting for certain inside-the-fence projects at NAICS 334511 industrial facilities. If enacted, this change would reduce local oversight of structural and safety standards for advanced electronics and aerospace manufacturing sites in Louisiana, shifting more responsibility to operators and state-level frameworks.

15 May 2026, 13:27legis.la.govUnited States

Iowa Amendment H-8494 Would Remove National Electrical Code Provisions From HF 2800

Iowa legislators have filed amendment H-8494 to omnibus bill HF 2800, which would strip out a division adopting and modifying the 2023 National Electrical Code while leaving proposed new monitoring and reporting requirements for proprietary onsite wastewater treatment systems under Iowa Code Chapter 455B in place. If HF 2800 is ultimately enacted as amended, wastewater system manufacturers, service technicians, and owners will face structured inspection and reporting duties from mid-2026 onward, but statewide adoption of the 2023 NEC would no longer be delivered through this budget bill.

7 May 2026, 05:53legis.iowa.govUnited States

Louisiana HB1103 On Industrial Facility Building Code Exemptions Referred To Senate Commerce Committee

Louisiana legislators are advancing HB1103, which would exempt NAICS 334511 industrial facilities from most state and local building code requirements for construction and improvements inside secured plant boundaries. If enacted, operators of these specialised manufacturing sites would face fewer building-permit and code-compliance obligations for internal projects, changing facility-design governance and oversight in Louisiana.

1 May 2026, 18:04legis.la.govUnited States

Rhode Island Senate S3093 Hearing Scheduled On Lead Hazard Mitigation For Pre-1978 Renovations

In late April 2026, Rhode Island scheduled a committee hearing on Senate Bill S3093, which would tighten lead hazard mitigation requirements for renovation projects in pre-1978 buildings. If adopted, the bill would require certified lead inspectors and supervisors on renovation sites, worker lead training, and Department of Labor and Training enforcement, raising compliance expectations for contractors and property owners working on older Rhode Island buildings.

1 May 2026, 18:03webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

Michigan MIOSHA Files JCAR Package for Amended Part 25 Concrete Construction Rules

Michigan's MIOSHA has filed the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules package, including final language, for amended Part 25 Concrete Construction safety rules, with filing and effective dates still pending as of 24 April 2026. These changes strengthen protections around concrete construction hazards and add new site access and training requirements, signalling upcoming compliance adjustments for Michigan construction employers once the rules take effect.

29 Apr 2026, 12:11ars.apps.lara.state.mi.usUnited States

Italy – INAIL Publishes Quaderno on Accident Prevention in Works and Maintenance Contracts

INAIL has issued a new Quaderno that compiles practical accident-prevention experiences for managing works and maintenance contracts on complex multi-contractor worksites in Italy. The non-binding guidance strengthens implementation of existing workplace safety duties by providing transferable tools and case studies for clients, contractors, and prevention professionals across sectors.

28 Apr 2026, 17:55inail.itItaly

Netherlands RIVM Issues Observation Cards On Safer Working At Height

In April 2026 the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment published a new report and observation cards to help prevent workplace falls from height. These tools give employers and safety professionals a structured, data-driven way to discuss fall risks and strengthen existing fall-prevention programmes and training across high-risk sectors.

28 Apr 2026, 11:50rivm.nlNetherlands

Hawaii Legislature Enrols SB3144 Amending Occupational Safety and Health Law

In April 2026 the Hawaii Legislature passed SB3144 and enrolled it to the Governor to amend the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Law, chiefly by repealing state hoisting machine operator certification and adjusting retaliation complaint investigation timelines. If signed, this will remove a state-level crane operator licensing layer while extending investigation windows for safety-related complaints, shifting compliance focus toward internal controls rather than credentialing from mid-2026.

27 Apr 2026, 17:58capitol.hawaii.govUnited States

England Building Safety Regulator Clarifies Part 2A Dutyholder and Competence Duties for Fire Sector

England’s building safety regime now embeds formal dutyholder roles and strict competence requirements in Part 2A of the Building Regulations, with official guidance clarifying how clients, designers and contractors – including fire-sector firms – must organise and evidence compliance across all building work. For fire safety businesses this effectively hardwires competence, role clarity and documentation into everyday projects, raising enforcement risk for organisations that cannot demonstrate robust skills, systems and governance around design and installation responsibilities.

25 Apr 2026, 10:50gov.ukUnited Kingdom

REDIBIT Launches "Building Safety" Occupational Health and Safety Campaign for Spain’s Construction Sector

In April 2026, Spain’s labour inspectorate announced that REDIBIT (Red Iberoamericana de Inspecciones del Trabajo), the Ibero-American Network of labour inspection authorities, has launched "Building Safety", its first occupational health and safety campaign focused on the construction sector. This signals a sharper regulatory focus on construction-site safety and gives employers early warning to ensure their existing occupational safety controls and documentation are robust.

23 Apr 2026, 08:00oeitss.gob.esSpain

Italy: UNI Publishes Standard UNI 11763-3:2026 on Complex Formwork Safety

In February 2026, Italy’s UNI standardisation body brought into force UNI 11763-3:2026, a new technical standard setting safety and design requirements for complex concrete formwork used on tunnels, bridges and other demanding structures. For construction firms and equipment suppliers, aligning designs, procurement and site procedures with this standard will be important for demonstrating safe practice on complex formwork operations and reducing structural and worker-safety risks.

16 Apr 2026, 15:53store.uni.comItaly

Washington Enacts SB 6188 Expanding L&I Asbestos Training Rulemaking Authority

Washington has enacted SB 6188 (Chapter 179, Laws of 2026), expanding the Department of Labor & Industries’ authority over asbestos worker and supervisor training rules effective 11 June 2026. This gives L&I more scope—within new evidence-based and least-burdensome constraints—to tighten asbestos training and refresher requirements, so Washington employers and training providers should monitor forthcoming rulemaking and plan for potential programme changes.

16 Apr 2026, 15:45lawfilesext.leg.wa.govUnited States

Nebraska LB725 Would Amend State Electrical Act

In April 2026 Nebraska advanced bill LB725, which would amend the State Electrical Act, by filing committee amendment AM3032 and placing the bill on General File. Companies with electrical installations or construction projects in Nebraska should monitor this bill’s progress to understand whether final changes alter licensing, inspection, or code requirements affecting facility design and maintenance.

16 Apr 2026, 13:37nebraskalegislature.govUnited States

Manitoba Requires Hot Water for Handwashing at Large Construction Sites From April 2027

Manitoba has adopted a new workplace safety requirement mandating hot water for handwashing at large construction sites, effective 1 April 2027. Prime contractors on qualifying projects must plan now to ensure compliant hot-water washroom facilities from the start of construction, avoiding health and safety breaches and worker-relations risks.

16 Apr 2026, 10:38news.gov.mb.caCanada

Germany BAuA Publishes Report on Fatal Workplace Falls in Construction Sector

Germany’s occupational safety institute BAuA has published a compact 2009–2025 analysis of 811 fatal workplace falls, showing that construction sites and small firms account for most deaths and that missing risk assessments and organisational deficiencies are common contributors. The findings sharpen the focus for employers and regulators on strengthening work-at-height risk assessments, equipment selection, and safety culture in construction and other high-risk sectors, even without new legal obligations.

15 Apr 2026, 18:21baua.deGermany

Sweden Boverket Adopts New Rules for Elevators and Other Motor-Driven Devices

Sweden’s Boverket has consolidated and updated its binding rules for elevators and other motor-driven devices into three new regulations that apply from 1 December 2025, replacing the previous H-regulations without changing the underlying safety requirements. The reform clarifies responsibilities for building owners, inspection bodies and economic operators while tightening documentation and inspection expectations, so asset owners should review maintenance and compliance procedures against the new structure ahead of and after entry into force.

13 Apr 2026, 18:18boverket.seSweden

New York Senate Bill S9660 Would Broaden Liability for Uniform Fire Code Violations

New York introduced legislation in March 2026 to expand liability for fire and building code violations to include property managers, architects, and contractors. The shift toward strict liability and flexible enforcement timelines increases legal risk and necessitates more rigorous compliance oversight for real estate and construction firms.

3 Apr 2026, 19:25nysenate.govUnited States

Luxembourg Government Amends Draft Asbestos Worker Protection Regulation With New Exposure Limits And Training Duties

Luxembourg is tightening asbestos safety standards by introducing significantly lower occupational exposure limits and mandatory building surveys for older structures. Companies must integrate enhanced site monitoring and specialized worker training into their operational planning to ensure compliance during renovation and demolition projects.

3 Apr 2026, 09:55cc.luLuxembourg