The US Department of State recently announced that no new student visa interview appointments are to be made available until further notice.

In the UK, product recalls are initiated and managed by the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS). In brief a recall means a company will ask consumers to return a product they bought due to a safety issue or defect that could cause harm. This alert provides information on the recent recall for Tower Air Fryers which have been identified as popular among students in student accommodation. It also explains the potential impact for our Members and managing the hazard.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law, finally received Royal Assent on Thursday 3 April 2025. This alert provides an update on its application and the impact it might have on Members.

With increasing pressure on Members to offer more flexible access to gyms and other leisure facilities, this has resulted in unstaffed leisure facilities (especially out of hours) becoming more common place. With limited supervision by fitness professionals, this presents new challenges to overcome emerging risks relating to safe equipment use and facilities being maintained in a safe condition.

There have been recent media reports regarding difficulties experienced by some travellers when attempting to enter the USA, including people being detained or refused entry allegedly due to having messages critical of President Trump on their electronic devices.

Heathrow airport is closed today (Friday 21st March 2025) due to a fire in a nearby electrical Substation.

Forecasters continue to warn people to expect a stormy start to 2025, with a yellow weather warning for high winds expect over the coming week. We encourage our Members to keep up to date with the various weather forecasting sites, use the early alerts to help with preparation and allocation of resources needed.

Artificial, engineered, reconstituted, or sintered stone has become increasingly popular in the construction and interior design sectors. In many cases, these engineered products contain up to 90–95% crystalline silica, making them a significant source of silica dust during fabrication and installation. This Risk Alert explains the potential risks associated with the use of these materials and controls that can be implemented to reduce them.

This guidance is intended to assist with managing Contract Works that are conducted on behalf of UMAL Members. Contract Works are generally specific works or projects conducted by external contractors and involve a construction contract under which a UMAL Member employs a contractor to conduct Works. This guidance document will help navigate the Contract Works landscape by explaining common terminology, highlighting relevant regulations and best practice and how to make sure that Works are covered correctly.

UMAL can share statistics on loss……. but this does not reflect what Members really face…….. let our Members tell you their stories of escape of water.

UMAL are upgrading from the current Global Risk Manager platform to the new Crisis24 Horizon platform on Tuesday 16th April.

To enhance personal and University property security, members should adopt practical measures to safeguard against theft in high turnover environments.

2024 UK forecast: colder, wetter, windier weather increasing health and safety risks. Slip, trip, fall injuries and property damage costs rise. Gritting, property maintenance, and travel precautions advised.