Construction Site Health and Safety

Construction is one of the most hazardous industries. As an employer or contractor, you must manage health and safety risks on construction sites. This includes complying with general health and safety law plus construction-specific regulations.

Key hazards on construction sites

Falls from height - the biggest killer in construction
Asbestos - risk during refurbishment/demolition of older buildings
Manual handling - heavy materials and repetitive tasks
Plant and vehicles - struck by or trapped between
Collapse - excavations, scaffolds, structures

Work at Height Requirements

Key requirements for managing work at height on construction sites

Minimum height triggering regulations: Any height with fall risk
Guardrail top rail height: Minimum 950mm above working platform
Toe board minimum height: 150mm
Scaffold inspection frequency: Every 7 days + after adverse weather
Maximum penalty (summary): Unlimited fine
Maximum penalty (indictment): Unlimited fine + 2 years imprisonment

Work at Height Regulations 2005

Work at Height Regulations apply to all work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, self-employed and those who control work at height. The regulations require a hierarchy of controls to minimize risk.

What is work at height?

Work at height means work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes:

Working on scaffolding or ladders
Working on roofs
Working near or at ground level near an opening or fragile surface
Working on mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)

You are working at height if you could fall through a fragile surface, into an opening, or from ground level into an excavation.

Hierarchy of control measures

The regulations require duty holders to follow this hierarchy:

Avoid work at height: Where reasonably practicable, do the work in a way that does not involve working at height.
Prevent falls: Where you cannot avoid working at height, use equipment or other measures to prevent falls (edge protection, guardrails, working platforms).
Mitigate distance/consequences: Where you cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use equipment or measures to minimize the distance and consequences (airbags, safety nets, soft landing systems).
Personal fall protection: Only where none of the above is reasonably practicable should you use personal fall protection equipment such as harnesses.

Key duties

Employers and those in control of work at height must:

Ensure work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent persons
Complete risk assessment before work begins
Take account of weather conditions that could endanger health and safety
Ensure equipment for work at height is inspected at suitable intervals
Prioritize collective protection measures over personal protection
Select equipment appropriate to the work, duration and risks involved

Fragile surfaces

Where work is done on or near fragile surfaces:

Measures must be taken to prevent falls through the fragile surface
Prominent warning notices must be displayed at approach to fragile surfaces
Platforms, guardrails, barriers or similar must be provided

Inspection and maintenance

Work equipment for working at height must be inspected:

Before first use
At suitable intervals during use
After any event likely to affect its strength or stability
Scaffolding must be inspected every 7 days and after adverse weather

Step 1: Conduct risk assessment for all work at height activities
Step 2: Consider whether work at height can be avoided altogether
Step 3: If unavoidable, select equipment following hierarchy of controls (collective protection first)
Step 4: Ensure all workers are competent or supervised appropriately
Step 5: Inspect equipment before use and at regular intervals
Step 6: For scaffolding, ensure inspection every 7 days and after adverse weather or alterations
Step 7: Maintain inspection records for scaffolding and mobile access equipment
Step 8: Provide edge protection, guardrails and barriers wherever practicable
Step 9: Only use personal fall protection (harnesses) as last resort
Step 10: Check weather conditions before work - stop if conditions endanger safety

Work at height guidance

Asbestos Management Requirements

Key requirements for managing asbestos in construction

Survey requirement: Pre-refurbishment/demolition survey mandatory for buildings built before 2000
Licensed work threshold: Over 1 hour non-licensed work OR exceeds exposure limits
HSE notification period: 14 days before licensed work (ASB5 form)
Control limit (4-hour TWA): 0.1 fibres/cm³
Short-term exposure limit (10-minute): 0.6 fibres/cm³
Training renewal: Annual refresher for licensed work
Maximum penalty: Unlimited fine + up to 2 years imprisonment

Manage Asbestos on Construction Projects

Process for managing asbestos during construction work

Step 1: Check for existing asbestos survey: Review building records for asbestos register or survey. If building was built before 2000, presume asbestos is present unless proven otherwise.
Step 2: Commission asbestos survey if needed: Arrange management survey for normal occupation or refurbishment/demolition survey for intrusive work. Use UKAS-accredited surveyor.
Step 3: Review survey to identify asbestos locations: Identify where asbestos-containing materials are located, their type (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite), condition, and accessibility.
Step 4: Assess if work will disturb asbestos: If no disturbance, mark area and avoid. For minor disturbance, assess if non-licensed work is permissible. For significant disturbance, engage HSE-licensed contractor.
Step 5: Notify HSE if licensed work required: Submit ASB5 form to HSE at least 14 days before licensed asbestos work begins. Verify contractor holds valid HSE license.
Step 6: Implement control measures: Ensure workers have asbestos awareness training. Provide suitable PPE and respiratory protection. Use wetting, enclosures, and H-class vacuum extraction.
Step 7: Arrange safe disposal: Use licensed waste carrier, transport in sealed labeled containers, dispose at licensed facility with consignment note.

Manual Handling Guidelines

Guidelines for manual handling on construction sites

Maximum recommended lift (men, waist height): 25kg (guideline, not legal limit)
Maximum recommended lift (women, waist height): 16kg (guideline, not legal limit)
Reduced limit (floor level): 70% of guideline weights
Reduced limit (arm's length): 50% of guideline weights
Reduced limit (above shoulder): 70% of guideline weights
Risk assessment requirement: Required where risk of injury exists
Training requirement: Sufficient information and training before manual handling

PPE Requirements for Construction

Personal protective equipment requirements on construction sites

Hard hat requirement: All construction sites where risk of head injury
High-visibility clothing: Required where vehicle/plant movement (Class 2 minimum)
Safety footwear: Steel toe caps where foot injury risk (EN ISO 20345)
Eye protection: Where flying particles/dust risk (BS EN 166)
Hearing protection: Must be provided at 85 dB(A) daily exposure
Respiratory protection: Where dust/fumes exposure (fit testing required)
PPE provision: Must be provided FREE by employer
Training requirement: Mandatory training on PPE use before use

Welfare Facilities Requirements

Welfare facilities requirements for construction sites under CDM 2015

Toilets for 1-5 workers: 1 toilet
Toilets for 6-25 workers: 2 toilets
Toilets for 26-50 workers: 3 toilets
Toilets for 51-75 workers: 4 toilets
Toilets for 76-100 workers: 5 toilets (+1 per additional 25)
Washing facilities: Hot and cold water, soap, towels - adjacent to toilets
Drinking water: Wholesome supply, clearly marked
Rest facilities: Shelter, heated, tables, chairs, kettle
Changing facilities: Required where special clothing worn

RIDDOR Reporting Requirements

Reporting requirements for construction site incidents

Death reporting: Immediately by phone, then online within 10 days
Major injury reporting: Online within 10 days (includes hospitalisation 24hrs+)
Over-7-day injury reporting: Within 15 days of accident
Dangerous occurrence reporting: Online within 10 days
Record retention: 3 years from incident date
HSE incident contact centre: 0345 300 9923 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm)
Online reporting: www.hse.gov.uk/riddor (24/7)
Penalty for non-reporting: Criminal offence - unlimited fine

Report a RIDDOR Incident

Process for reporting construction site incidents to HSE

Step 1: Provide immediate first aid: Ensure injured person receives immediate care. Call 999 if medical emergency.
Step 2: Determine if incident is reportable: Check if incident involves: death, specified injury (fractures except fingers/toes, amputations, crush injuries, loss of sight, burns over 10% body), over-7-day incapacity, or dangerous occurrence.
Step 3: Report death or specified injury immediately: Phone HSE incident contact centre on 0345 300 9923 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm). Follow up online within 10 days at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor.
Step 4: Report over-7-day injury within 15 days: If worker is incapacitated for more than 7 consecutive days, report online within 15 days of the accident.
Step 5: Report dangerous occurrence within 10 days: Report dangerous occurrences (scaffold collapse, uncontrolled release, electrical short circuit) online within 10 days.
Step 6: Keep RIDDOR reference and records: Save the RIDDOR reference number. Record incident in accident book. Keep all records for 3 years.
Step 7: Investigate and prevent recurrence: Conduct incident investigation, identify root causes, review and update risk assessments.

HSE Enforcement Powers and Penalties

HSE enforcement powers and penalties for construction safety breaches

Inspector entry powers: Can enter premises without warrant at any reasonable time
Improvement notice compliance: Minimum 21 days to comply
Prohibition notice effect: Immediate stop work until risk eliminated
Fee for Intervention (FFI) rate: £183 per hour (April 2025)
FFI payment period: 30 days (or dispute within 14 days)
Maximum fine (summary): Unlimited
Maximum fine (indictment): Unlimited
Maximum imprisonment: 2 years for serious breaches
Corporate manslaughter: Unlimited fine + remedial orders

Respond to HSE Improvement or Prohibition Notice

Process for responding to HSE enforcement notices

Step 1: Read notice carefully: Understand what breaches are cited and the deadline (improvement notice) or immediate stop (prohibition notice).
Step 2: For prohibition notice - stop immediately: Stop the activity immediately. Inform all affected workers. Isolate/barricade area. Do not resume until breach remedied.
Step 3: Assess whether to appeal: You have 21 days to appeal to employment tribunal. Appeal suspends improvement notice but NOT prohibition notice.
Step 4: Remedy the breach: Implement required actions - purchase equipment, change procedures, provide training. Document all actions taken.
Step 5: Confirm compliance: Inform HSE inspector when complete (in writing). Provide evidence (photos, training records, certificates). Inspector may verify.
Step 6: Pay Fee for Intervention charges: HSE will invoice at £178/hour for time investigating material breach. Pay within 30 days or dispute within 14 days.
Step 7: Review systems to prevent recurrence: Update risk assessments, improve management systems, increase supervision and monitoring.

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