Employers are being advised to prepare for the year ahead and reduce inspection risk after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed a tougher focus on work-related ill health in its latest business plan.

Health and safety experts at Citation have warned that construction businesses in particular should expect increased scrutiny of how they manage long-term health risks on sites – including stress, asbestos, dust, noise and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The HSE has set out plans for 14,000 proactive inspections in 2026-27, backed by targeted campaigns and tighter scrutiny of work-related ill health - especially in higher risk sectors such as construction.

Inspectors are expected to look beyond paperwork to test whether controls are working in practice on busy, fast‑paced projects.

Construction is set to be a key inspection area with 5,000 expected visits. Where serious risks are found, inspectors are likely to take proportionate enforcement action, including requiring immediate improvements or even taking legal action where duty holders fail to comply with the law. 

But Citation is telling employers they can protect themselves by taking a proactive approach now. Tightening up health risk assessments and making sure managers understand their responsibilities will help reduce the likelihood of an HSE inspection.

This will also ensure that organisations are best placed to demonstrate compliance and avoid costly enforcement action if an inspector does arrive on site.

Michelle Taylor, Health, Safety & Fire Service Director at Citation said: “The Health and Safety Executive has set out exactly where it will focus its attention for the next year, including thousands of proactive inspections and tighter scrutiny of health risks like stress, asbestos and respiratory disease.

“If you’re an employer, understanding these priorities now can help you stay compliant and avoid enforcement action - all while protecting your people.

“It’s important to remember the HSE does not inspect at random. Inspections are targeted at duty holders in sectors with the highest health and safety risks, where there is a history of poor performance or non-compliance, where intelligence suggests controls may not be working effectively, or following reports of dangerous occurrences.

“For construction, that means weak risk management increases the chance of something going wrong and significantly increases the likelihood of an inspection.

“Inspectors will want to see that dust, noise and asbestos are properly controlled, MSD and stress risks are managed, health surveillance is in place where required, and that known problems are being tackled, not ignored.”

To prepare for the year ahead and reduce inspection risk, Citation is advising employers to:

• Review health risk assessments, particularly for stress, asbestos, dust (including silica), noise and MSDs across all sites and projects.

• Check that controls - such as extraction, PPE, isolation, safe systems of work and welfare arrangements - are in place and working, not just documented.

• Make sure site managers, supervisors and project leads clearly understand their responsibilities, especially around health risks and worker wellbeing.

• Ensure health surveillance is provided where legally required and that records are complete and up to date.

• Address known issues promptly, rather than waiting for an inspection or an incident.

• Be inspection‑ready, knowing the HSE is planning 14,000 proactive inspections this year, with construction firmly in scope.

Citation is a leading health and safety, HR, and employment law provider. Its consultants help businesses across the UK to ensure they’re providing safe, healthy and compliant workplaces for all employees.

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