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Key takeaways from the BALPPA Health and Safety Seminar.

Welcome to the Universal Verification newsletter – Universally Speaking.

Issue number 005 – Key takeaways from the BALPPA Health and Safety seminar.

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The BALPPA Incident Management Day and Health & Safety Seminar returned to Drayton Manor Resort on the 26 and 27 November 2025, bringing together safety leaders, park operators, consultants and regulators from across the UK attractions industry.

Universal Verification Ltd attended both days, and in this newsletter Neil Wilson summarises the most valuable insights, trends and takeaways.

1. Incident Management: Recognising the “New Normal” in Crisis Response

The first day, led by Alan Baldwin of United Outcomes, focused entirely on crisis management. One of the key messages was simple but profound:

A crisis creates a “new normal”.

Teams often talk about incidents in terms of “before” and “after,” and that shift defines how decisions are made under pressure.

Alan introduced policing terminology for crisis analysis: simple, complex and wicked problems.

Wicked problems were the focus of discussion: situations where no single decision is objectively “right,” and where hindsight often unfairly colours judgement. Delegates were reminded that crisis decisions must be justifiable based on the information available at the time, not through retrospective perfection.

A recurring theme was that taking some action is usually better than paralysis. Most crises allow around 30 seconds of rapid situational assessment before a decision must be made, emphasising the need for strong preparation, training and internal communication frameworks.

2. Tabletop Exercises: When Real-World Scenarios Divide a Room

Two tabletop crisis simulations revealed just how varied response strategies can be, even among experienced professionals.

Scenario 1: A vehicle driving into a crowd

Was it intentional? Or a medical emergency? Should responders approach the vehicle or not? Discussion showed how instinctive responses differ and how crucial it is to have a pre-agreed command structure in place.

Scenario 2: A missing 15-year-old guest

With social media involvement, suspected grooming risks and escalating uncertainty, opinions diverged on questions such as:

These exercises reinforced that policy alone isn’t enough. Teams need realistic drills to expose gaps in decision-making and facilitate alignment.

3. Counterterror Preparedness and Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law continues to be a major topic for UK attractions, and the seminar offered further clarity around the expectations:

The message was clear: attractions must think seriously about how they would isolate areas, protect guests, and maintain communication in a high-threat scenario.

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4. What the HSE Is Finding on the Ground: Common Compliance Gaps

The HSE opened the second day with their annual update on inspection trends across the attractions industry.

Last year 27% of NFIT inspections identified non-compliance (lower than the all-industry average of 40%, but still significant).

The most common issues identified were consistent with those identified in past years.

Frequent Findings

NFIT inspections will increase from 100 to 175 next year.

This update acted as a reminder that baseline safety performance still varies widely and that documentation, supervision, and daily checks remain critical.

5. A Major Update Is Coming: What We Know About the New HS(G)175

The HS(G)175 update was one of the most keenly anticipated parts of the seminar. HSE shared the clearest detail to date on what the upcoming edition of HS(G)175 is expected to address.

A draft is due by the end of December, followed by a six-week consultation period.

While the full content is not yet public, the HSE highlighted several areas likely to be included or strengthened, as follows.

a. Integration of BS 14200 (Maintenance of Machinery)

This is anticipated to be a major shift which will affect controllers, designers, manufacturers, and inspection bodies.

HS(G)175 is likely to include:

b. Stronger Requirements for DRAs and Design Reviews

The HSE indicated that the revisions may include:

This could help close long-standing industry gaps where controllers lack access to design documentation.

c. UKAS Accreditation for Schemes

HS(G)175 is expected to require the scheme (e.g., ADIPS, LEAPS) to be accredited under ISO 17065.

This is expected to lead to:

d. Clearer Definition of the Appointed Inspection Body Role

The revision is expected to include:

e. HSE Webinars for Industry After Publication

The HSE confirmed they will run targeted webinars once the new edition is released, specifically for:

These will break down the practical implications for each group.

What This Means for the Industry

This new edition represents the most significant update in several years. It will require:

Universal Verification will be supporting clients through the transition. This includes helping controllers prepare for new documentation, revised maintenance expectations and updated compliance requirements.

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6. Technical Deep Dive: NDT, Water Quality and New Tech

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

A detailed session from Tony Knutsen emphasised:

Water Quality on Water Rides

Key notes included:

Drone-Assisted Inspection Demo

A live demonstration showed how automated drone flight paths can support maintenance by capturing high-resolution images, thermal data and even relaying audio to guests.

Final Thoughts

This year’s BALPPA seminar reinforced something we at Universal Verification believe strongly:

Safety improves fastest when knowledge is shared openly.

From crisis response to HS(G)175 updates to NDT and water treatment, the insights shared across both days highlight the direction the industry is heading in 2026 and beyond.

We’re proud to support attractions and inspection bodies in navigating these changes, building stronger safety cultures to help prevent accidents, and ensuring guests and staff at attractions remain protected.

If you’d like to discuss how these themes affect your attraction, or if you want support with DRAs, OURAs, MRAs or operational safety reviews, our team is ready to help.

Email the team at enquiries@universal-verification.com

We hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you did, please feel free to share it with friends and colleagues.

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