The Health and Safety Executive has announced a landmark project: the creation of the UK's first-ever joint industry guidance for collaborative robotics in the workplace. Launched on 10 June 2026 at London Tech Week, this initiative signals a major shift in how regulators approach automation and human-robot interaction on work sites.
If your business uses — or is considering using — robotic systems that work alongside people, this development directly affects you.
What Has Been Announced
HSE and the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) are partnering with Automate UK and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to produce practical guidance on how collaborative robots (cobots) can safely work alongside humans.
The project has been co-designed with industry to give companies clarity on regulatory requirements and support businesses to increase the use of robotics safely and responsibly.
Andrew Curran CBE, HSE's Director of Science and Chief Scientific Adviser, said: "We recognise how guidance and advice can give employers the confidence to innovate safely and provide a platform for new technology to improve productivity and enable growth."
He added: "We understand that despite there being no barrier to adoption in health and safety law there is a fear of non-compliance, which is limiting adoption."
The first stage, launching this summer, will deliver regulatory clarity specifically for cobots — giving industry confidence in how to ensure robots can work safely alongside humans.
Why This Matters for Construction and Engineering
While collaborative robotics has been more common in manufacturing and logistics, the construction industry is increasingly adopting automated and semi-automated systems:
- Bricklaying robots working alongside labourers
- Automated material handling on large sites
- Robotic demolition equipment operated in proximity to workers
- Drone systems for surveying and inspection
- Exoskeletons for manual handling tasks
The key challenge is the same across all sectors: when a machine works in the same space as a human, the risk assessment must account for the interaction between the two. Traditional machine guarding — fencing off the robot — does not apply to cobots. They are designed to share workspace with people.
Your Existing Legal Duties
Even before this new guidance is published, employers already have clear legal duties when introducing any work equipment — including robotic systems:
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER):
- Equipment must be suitable for its intended use
- Risks must be assessed and controlled
- Workers must be adequately trained
- Equipment must be properly maintained
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
- A suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be carried out
- Control measures must be implemented and reviewed
→ Risk Assessment Template (General) — suitable for assessing new equipment introduction including automated systems
→ Work Equipment Register — maintain a formal register of all work equipment on site, including robotic systems
What You Should Be Doing Now
Even though the formal HSE/industry guidance is not yet published, there are practical steps you can take today:
1. Risk assess any automated equipment — if you have cobots, automated guided vehicles, or any robotic system working near people, ensure you have a documented risk assessment in place → Risk Assessment Template (General)
2. Review your RAMS — method statements should address human-robot interaction zones, emergency stop procedures, and exclusion zones → RAMS Action Tracker
3. Maintain equipment records — all robotic systems should be on your work equipment register with maintenance schedules documented → Work Equipment Site Monitoring
4. Train your workforce — operatives working near automated systems need specific induction covering safe behaviours, exclusion zones, and emergency procedures → Site Safety Induction Template
5. Implement permit systems — for high-risk interactions (maintenance, programming, fault-finding on robotic systems), consider a permit-to-work approach → General Permit to Work
6. Monitor electrical safety — cobots are electrical equipment and must be included in your electrical safety management system → Electrical Permit to Work
The Bigger Picture: Technology and Safety Working Together
HSE's approach here is encouraging. Rather than creating barriers to adoption, they are actively working with industry to remove uncertainty. The message is clear: there is no legal barrier to using cobots in UK workplaces — but employers must manage the risks properly.
For construction and engineering businesses, this means:
- Do not wait for the guidance to be published before assessing your risks
- Document everything — risk assessments, training records, maintenance logs
- Engage with the guidance when it is published this summer — it will set the benchmark for what HSE considers good practice
Templates to Support Safe Equipment Management
Whether you are introducing cobots, automated plant, or any new work equipment, having the right documentation in place demonstrates compliance and protects your workforce:
- → Work Equipment Register — formal register for all equipment including automated systems
- → Work Equipment Site Monitoring — ongoing monitoring checklist
- → General Permit to Work — permit system for high-risk maintenance activities
- → Electrical Trade Pack — complete pack for electrical safety management
- → Site Safety Induction Template — ensure all workers are briefed on automated systems
The future of construction involves more automation, not less. Getting your safety documentation right now puts you ahead of the curve — and on the right side of the regulator.