REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARD-RAILS ETC.
- Install and maintain safe guard-rails, toe-boards, and barriers Occupier
UK Statutory Instrument
1996
United Kingdom
The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
28 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 11
- Contractor 8
- Employer 5
- Occupier 2
- Self-Employed Person 2
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Contractors also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 360 duties
- The Income Tax (Sub-contractors in the Construction Industry) Regulations 1993 1993 19 duties
- Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 2000 17 duties
- Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 2012 15 duties
- Work in Compressed Air Regulations 1996 1996 14 duties
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 204 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 201 duties
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 1989 55 duties
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 51 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 47 duties
Occupiers also bound by 101 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 23 duties
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 21 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 15 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 13 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 12 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 17 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 1998 4 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022) 1992 4 duties
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 1999 3 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL SUSPENSION EQUIPMENT
- Ensure personal suspension equipment is safe, stable, and secure Any Person
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF ARRESTING FALLS
- Ensure fall arrest equipment is safe, strong, and correctly attached Any Person
REQUIREMENTS FOR LADDERS
- Ensure all ladders are safe, stable, and correctly secured Employer
Browse 62 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
A guard-rail, toe-board, barrier or other similar means of protection...
Any structure or any part of a structure which supports...
The main guard-rail or other similar means of protection shall...
There shall not be an unprotected gap exceeding 470 millimetres...
Toe-boards or other similar means of protection shall not be...
Guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers and other similar means of protection shall...
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING PLATFORMS
Interpretation
Condition of surfaces
Stability of supporting structure
Stability of working platform
Safety on working platforms
Loading
Personal suspension equipment shall be suitable and of sufficient strength...
Personal suspension equipment shall be securely attached to a structure...
Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent any...
Personal suspension equipment shall be installed or attached in such...
In this Schedule, “equipment” means any equipment provided for the...
The equipment shall be suitable and of sufficient strength to...
The equipment shall be securely attached to a structure or...
Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to ensure, so...
Any surface upon which a ladder rests shall be stable,...
A ladder shall— (a) be suitable and of sufficient strength...
All ladders used as a means of access between places...
The top of any ladder used as a means of...
Where a ladder or run of ladders rises a vertical...
WELFARE FACILITIES
Sanitary conveniencies
Drinking water
Where a supply of drinking water is provided, there shall...
Accommodation for clothing
Facilities for changing clothing
Facilities for rest
Sanitary conveniences and the rooms containing them shall be kept...
Separate rooms containing sanitary conveniences shall be provided for men...
Washing facilities
Washing facilities shall include— (a) a supply of clean hot...
Rooms containing washing facilities shall be sufficiently ventilated and lit....
Washing facilities and the rooms containing them shall be kept...
Subject to paragraph 9 below, separate washing facilities shall be...
Paragraph 8 above shall not apply to facilities which are...
PLACES OF WORK REQUIRING INSPECTION
PARTICULARS TO BE INCLUDED IN A REPORT OF INSPECTION
Name and address of the person on whose behalf the...
Location of the place of work inspected.
Description of the place of work or part of that...
Date and time of the inspection.
Details of any matter identified that could give rise to...
Details of any action taken as a result of any...
Details of any further action considered necessary.
Name and position of the person making report.
MODIFICATIONS
In sub-section (5) of section 184 of the Mines and...
The Factories Act 1961 is modified as follows—
The Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961 are modified as follows—...
In regulation 2 of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority)...
The following sub-paragraph shall be substituted for sub-paragraph (b) of...
Paragraph (3) of regulation 40 of the Management and Administration...
In regulation 2(1) of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994...
In regulation 2(1) of the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations...
In regulation 2(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations...
REVOCATIONS
Persons upon whom duties are imposed by these Regulations
- Comply with construction safety regulations and cooperate with others Self-Employed Person
Falls
- Prevent falls from height and provide safe work equipment Any Person
Fragile material
- Prevent falls through fragile roofing and materials Occupier
Falling objects
- Prevent injuries from falling objects and stored materials Any Person
Stability of structures
- Maintain structural stability during construction work Contractor
Demolition or dismantling
- Safely plan and supervise demolition or dismantling work Any Person
Explosives
- Ensure safety before and during the use of explosives Any Person
Excavations
- Ensure safety and stability of excavations Contractor
Cofferdams and caissons
- Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safely designed, built, and supervised Contractor
Prevention of drowning
- Prevent drowning risks and ensure safe water transport Any Person
Traffic routes
- Organise safe traffic routes for pedestrians and vehicles Contractor
Vehicles
- Ensure safe operation and control of vehicles on construction sites Any Person
Prevention of risk from fire etc.
- Prevent risks of fire, explosion, flooding, and asphyxiation on site Contractor
Emergency routes and exits
- Provide and maintain safe emergency routes and exits on construction sites Any Person
Emergency procedures
- Establish and test emergency procedures for construction sites Contractor
Fire detection and fire-fighting
- Provide and maintain fire detection and fire-fighting equipment Any Person
Welfare facilities
- Provide and maintain adequate welfare facilities on construction sites Self-Employed Person
Fresh air
- Ensure sufficient fresh air and ventilation in the workplace Employer
Temperature and weather protection
- Maintain reasonable workplace temperatures and weather protection Employer
Lighting
- Provide safe and sufficient workplace lighting Employer
Good order
- Keep construction sites clean, orderly, and safely demarcated Contractor
Plant and equipment
- Ensure all construction plant and equipment is safe and maintained Contractor
Training
- Ensure staff have correct training and supervision for construction work Any Person
Inspection
- Inspect construction sites and equipment before use Employer
Browse 46 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and commencement
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Interpretation
Application
Application
Persons upon whom duties are imposed by these Regulations
Safe places of work
Safe places of work
Falls
Fragile material
Falling objects
Stability of structures
Demolition or dismantling
Explosives
Excavations
Cofferdams and caissons
Prevention of drowning
Traffic routes
Doors and gates
Doors and gates
Vehicles
Prevention of risk from fire
Emergency routes and exits
Emergency procedures
Fire detection and fire-fighting
Welfare facilities
Fresh air
Temperature and weather protection
Lighting
Good order
Plant and equipment
Training
Inspection
Reports
Reports
Exemption certificates
Exemption certificates
Extension outside Great Britain
Extension outside Great Britain
Enforcement in respect of fire
Enforcement in respect of fire
Modifications
Modifications
Revocations
Revocations
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.