Building and general contracting consistently ranks among the most dangerous industries in the UK. Falls from height, being struck by moving or falling objects, and being trapped by collapses cause the majority of fatal injuries. For non-fatal injuries, manual handling, slips, trips, and cuts dominate the statistics.
Whether you're a sole trader handling extensions and renovations or a larger firm running multiple sites, understanding and managing health and safety risks is both a legal requirement and essential for business sustainability.
The Legal Framework
Building work is governed by extensive health and safety legislation. The key regulations include:
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - The foundation of UK health and safety law, placing duties on employers, the self-employed, and employees.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) - The primary regulations for construction work, establishing duty holder roles and responsibilities.
Work at Height Regulations 2005 - Specific requirements for any work where someone could fall and injure themselves.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - Requirements for managing asbestos in buildings and controlling exposure.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) - Covers hazardous substances including silica dust, cement, and construction chemicals.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) - Requirements for lifting equipment including hoists, telehandlers, and lifting accessories.
CDM 2015 - Understanding Your Role
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations apply to virtually all building work. Understanding your duties under CDM is fundamental to legal compliance.
When CDM Applies
CDM applies to all construction work, including:
- New builds
- Alterations, extensions, and conversions
- Repairs and maintenance
- Demolition and dismantling
- Site clearance and preparation
Duty Holder Roles
CDM creates specific roles with defined duties:
| Role | Who | Key Duties |
|---|---|---|
| Client | Person commissioning work | Ensure suitable arrangements for managing the project |
| Principal Designer | Designer with control of pre-construction phase | Plan, manage, and coordinate pre-construction health and safety |
| Principal Contractor | Contractor with control of construction phase | Plan, manage, and monitor construction phase safety |
| Designer | Anyone who prepares designs | Eliminate hazards where possible, reduce risks that remain |
| Contractor | Anyone doing construction work | Plan, manage, and monitor their work safely |
Contractor Duties
As a builder, you are always a contractor under CDM. Your duties include:
- Plan, manage, and monitor your work to ensure safety
- Not start work unless satisfied that the client is aware of their duties and welfare facilities are adequate
- Provide relevant information to other contractors and the principal contractor
- Comply with directions from the principal contractor
- Provide information for the health and safety file
- Ensure workers have appropriate skills, knowledge, training, and supervision
On domestic projects with multiple contractors, the contractor in control of the construction phase assumes principal contractor duties. On single-contractor projects, standard contractor duties apply. Note that CDM applies to all construction work including domestic projects - the duties are modified for domestic clients, but contractor duties still apply in full.
Pre-Construction Information
Before starting work, you should receive pre-construction information about the project. This includes:
- Existing drawings and building information
- Asbestos survey results (for existing buildings)
- Information about existing services
- Ground conditions where relevant
- Any previous health and safety information
If this information isn't provided, ask for it. Working without adequate information increases risks.
The Construction Phase Plan
Projects with more than one contractor, or notifiable projects, require a construction phase plan. Even on smaller projects, having a documented approach to safety is good practice.
A construction phase plan should cover:
- Project description and management arrangements
- Arrangements for controlling significant risks
- Emergency procedures
- Welfare arrangements
Working at Height
Falls from height remain the leading cause of death in construction. The Work at Height Regulations require a systematic approach.
The Hierarchy of Control
You must follow this hierarchy:
- Avoid working at height where reasonably practicable
- Use work equipment to prevent falls where height work is necessary (scaffolding, platforms, edge protection)
- Minimise fall distance and consequences where falls cannot be prevented (safety nets, harnesses)
Common Height Work Scenarios
Scaffolding:
- Must be erected by competent persons
- Requires inspection before first use, after anything that could affect stability, and at regular intervals (at least every 7 days)
- Inspection records must be kept
- Guard rails, toe boards, and adequate platforms are essential
Ladders:
- Only appropriate for short-duration work or where other options aren't reasonably practicable
- Must be in good condition and set up correctly (1 in 4 angle)
- Three points of contact when climbing
- Secure at top and bottom where possible
Roof work:
- Assess fragility - many materials are weaker than they appear
- Use crawling boards on fragile roofs
- Install edge protection before work starts
- Plan access and egress carefully
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs):
- Operators must be trained (IPAF or equivalent)
- Ground conditions must be suitable
- Outriggers must be used correctly
- Weather conditions must be appropriate
Fatal Fall from Scaffold
A builder fell 4 metres from scaffolding during domestic extension work. The scaffold had been erected without guardrails on the working platform, and no harness was being used. The builder stepped backwards and fell through the unprotected edge.
The builder died from head injuries. The HSE investigation found the scaffold had never been properly erected or inspected. The company was prosecuted and the director received a suspended prison sentence for gross negligence manslaughter.
- •Scaffold must have proper guardrails - this is non-negotiable
- •Scaffold erection and inspection must be done by competent persons
- •Falls from relatively low heights can still be fatal
- •Directors and owners can face personal prosecution
Manual Handling
Manual handling injuries are the most common cause of over-7-day absences in construction. Blocks, bricks, bags of cement, and sheet materials all present handling risks.
Assessment
Before significant manual handling:
- Consider the load - weight, size, shape, grip points
- Consider the task - distances, heights, repetition, awkward positions
- Consider the environment - space, surfaces, temperature
- Consider individual capability - fitness, training, any health conditions
Control Measures
Eliminate or reduce:
- Have materials delivered to the point of use where possible
- Order manageable pack sizes
- Use mechanical aids (telehandlers, hoists, trolleys, barrows)
- Share loads between workers
Technique:
- Train workers in proper handling techniques
- Plan lifts before starting
- Keep loads close to the body
- Avoid twisting - move feet instead
- Take breaks from repetitive handling
High-Risk Tasks
Particular attention needed for:
- Block and brick laying (repetitive, awkward positions)
- Carrying sheet materials (bulky, wind-affected)
- Cement and plaster bags (heavy, awkward)
- Working in trenches or confined areas
- Overhead work
Silica Dust
Construction work is the largest source of silica dust exposure. Silica causes silicosis, lung cancer, and COPD. It's estimated that several hundred construction workers die each year from silica-related diseases.
High-Risk Activities
Activities generating respirable crystalline silica (RCS):
- Cutting blocks, bricks, concrete, stone
- Grinding concrete surfaces
- Drilling masonry
- Scabbling
- Demolition work
- Dry sweeping dusty areas
Legal Requirements
The COSHH Regulations require you to:
- Assess the risk from silica exposure
- Prevent exposure where possible
- Adequately control exposure where prevention isn't possible
- Maintain and test control measures
- Monitor exposure where required
- Provide health surveillance for workers regularly exposed
Control Measures
The hierarchy for silica control:
- Eliminate - can you avoid generating silica dust? (different materials, pre-cut products)
- Use wet methods - water suppression dramatically reduces airborne dust
- Extract at source - on-tool extraction captures dust before it spreads
- RPE - respiratory protective equipment as a last resort, properly fitted
In practice:
- Cut blocks and bricks outdoors where possible
- Use water suppression on disc cutters
- Use tools with integrated extraction
- Ensure RPE is FFP3 rated and face-fit tested
- Never dry sweep - use vacuum or damping
Poor Practice
- •Dry cutting blocks indoors
- •Standard dust mask or no RPE
- •Dry sweeping to clean up
- •No extraction on power tools
Good Practice
Recommended- •Cut outdoors with water suppression
- •Face-fit tested FFP3 respirator
- •H-class vacuum for cleaning
- •On-tool extraction where available
Asbestos
Asbestos remains in millions of UK buildings. Builders are at particular risk because work often disturbs building fabric where asbestos may be present.
Where You'll Find Asbestos
Common locations in buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000:
- Cement sheets (roofing, wall cladding, guttering)
- Insulating boards (ceiling tiles, partition walls, fire protection)
- Textured coatings (Artex and similar)
- Floor tiles and adhesives
- Pipe and boiler insulation
- Roof felt and flashings
Legal Requirements
Before starting work:
- Check for asbestos information (survey, register) in commercial and rented properties
- Make reasonable enquiries in domestic properties
- Assume materials may contain asbestos unless proven otherwise
Asbestos awareness training is mandatory for anyone whose work could disturb asbestos.
Encountering Asbestos
If you find or suspect asbestos:
- Stop work immediately
- Don't disturb the material further
- Keep others away
- Inform the client/building manager
- Assess whether the work can proceed without disturbing the material
- Get testing if there's doubt
- Use licensed contractors for high-risk removal
Non-Licensed Work
Some asbestos work can be done without a licence if:
- It's sporadic and low intensity
- Workers are trained
- Exposure is below the control limit
- Appropriate controls are used
This includes some work with asbestos cement products and textured coatings, but NOT work with insulation, spray coatings, or insulating board (with limited exceptions).
Frequently Asked Questions
Possibly, depending on the quantity and condition. Small quantities of undamaged asbestos cement (roof sheets, cladding) can be removed as non-licensed work if you're properly trained and follow correct procedures. Large quantities, damaged materials, or materials requiring breaking should involve a licensed contractor. Always assess each situation carefully.
Homeowners often don't know. If the building dates from before 2000 and you'll be disturbing materials that could contain asbestos, you need to check. This might mean arranging sampling, working on the assumption it contains asbestos, or declining work that would disturb suspect materials without proper controls.
Technically, asbestos awareness is required for work that could foreseeably disturb asbestos. New builds shouldn't contain asbestos. However, if you ever work on existing buildings, you need the training - and most builders do. It's a half-day course that could save your life.
Site Safety
Effective site management prevents many common accidents.
Site Set-Up
Before work starts:
- Secure the site perimeter (hoarding, fencing)
- Establish safe access routes
- Set up welfare facilities
- Plan material storage areas
- Identify overhead and underground services
- Establish emergency procedures
Housekeeping
Poor housekeeping causes slips, trips, and fire risks:
- Keep access routes clear
- Clean up debris regularly
- Store materials safely
- Secure loose items that could be blown or knocked
- Remove waste promptly
- Don't allow rubbish to accumulate
Services
Striking underground or overhead services causes deaths every year.
Before excavating:
- Check plans and records
- Use cable detection equipment
- Hand dig near services
- Assume services are present until proven otherwise
When working near overhead lines:
- Maintain safe distances (minimum varies with voltage)
- Use goal posts or barriers where vehicles operate
- Plan work to avoid passing under lines with loads
Emergency Procedures
Every site needs:
- Fire evacuation procedures
- First aid arrangements
- Accident reporting procedures
- Emergency contact numbers displayed
- Assembly point identified
Welfare Facilities
CDM requires adequate welfare facilities for construction workers.
Minimum Requirements
The minimum depends on project duration and number of workers:
| Facility | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Toilets | Adequate number for workforce, kept clean |
| Washing | Running water, soap, means of drying |
| Drinking water | Clean drinking water available |
| Rest area | Somewhere to take breaks, protected from weather |
| Changing | If needed for work clothing |
| Storage | For personal belongings and clothing |
Domestic Projects
On domestic projects, you may be able to use the client's facilities by agreement. However, you can't assume this - arrange welfare before starting work.
Remote Sites
On sites without mains services:
- Portable toilets and wash stations
- Bottled water for drinking
- Vehicle or site hut for rest breaks
- Plan toilet emptying and water replenishment
Hand-Arm Vibration
Power tools expose workers to vibration that can cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) - a painful and disabling condition affecting nerves and blood supply to hands.
High-Risk Tools
Tools causing significant vibration:
- Hammer drills and breakers
- Angle grinders
- Sanders and polishers
- Concrete vibrators
- Chainsaws
- Impact wrenches
Exposure Limits
The law sets exposure action and limit values:
- Exposure Action Value (EAV): 2.5 m/s² - action required to reduce exposure
- Exposure Limit Value (ELV): 5 m/s² - must not be exceeded
Exposure depends on vibration magnitude AND duration. Short use of very vibratory tools can exceed limits quickly.
Controls
- Use lower-vibration tools where available
- Maintain tools properly (blunt, worn tools vibrate more)
- Limit exposure duration and rotate workers
- Provide anti-vibration gloves (limited benefit but part of overall approach)
- Health surveillance for regular users
- Train workers to recognise early symptoms
Noise
Construction work frequently involves noise levels that can cause permanent hearing damage.
The Exposure Limits
| Level | Action |
|---|---|
| 80 dB(A) Lower Action Value | Provide hearing protection if requested, inform workers of risks |
| 85 dB(A) Upper Action Value | Hearing protection mandatory, demarcate noisy areas, health surveillance |
| 87 dB(A) Limit Value | Must not be exceeded (measured at ear) |
Common Noise Sources
Many construction activities exceed 85 dB(A):
- Disc cutting, angle grinding
- Hammer drilling, breaking
- Cartridge tools
- Many power tools
- Plant and machinery
Controls
- Reduce noise at source (quieter equipment, different methods)
- Separate noisy work from other tasks
- Limit time exposure
- Provide and enforce hearing protection use
- Health surveillance for regular exposure
PPE Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment is the last line of defence, but essential when other controls aren't sufficient.
Minimum Site PPE
Most construction sites require as a minimum:
- Hard hat (where head injury risk exists)
- Safety footwear (steel/composite toe and midsole)
- High-visibility clothing (where vehicle movements occur)
- Gloves (appropriate to hazard)
- Eye protection (for impact, dust, or chemical risks)
Specific Tasks
Additional PPE for specific activities:
- Hearing protection (noisy work)
- RPE (dust, fumes)
- Full face protection (grinding, cutting)
- Fall protection harnesses (where required)
- Welding protection (welding tasks)
PPE Management
PPE must be:
- Suitable for the hazard
- Properly fitted (especially RPE)
- Maintained and stored correctly
- Replaced when damaged or worn
- Used correctly by workers
Employer Responsibilities
If you employ others, additional duties apply.
Legal Basics
- Written health and safety policy (mandatory for 5+ employees)
- Risk assessments (must be written for 5+ employees)
- Employers' liability insurance (compulsory)
- Competent health and safety assistance
- Consultation with employees on safety matters
Training
Ensure workers have:
- Site induction for each new site
- Task-specific training for their work
- CSCS cards or equivalent competence evidence
- Asbestos awareness (mandatory)
- Other training appropriate to their work
Supervision
Level of supervision depends on:
- Experience and competence of workers
- Risk level of the work
- Complexity of the task
- Whether the work is familiar or new
New workers and high-risk activities need closer supervision.
Records
Maintain records of:
- Training and competence
- Risk assessments
- Accident and incident reports
- Equipment inspections
- Health surveillance results
Insurance Requirements
Employers' Liability Insurance
Compulsory if you employ anyone (including family members). Must provide minimum £5 million cover. The certificate must be displayed where employees can see it.
Public Liability Insurance
Not legally required but essential in practice. Covers claims from third parties for injury or property damage. Most clients will require evidence of cover before work starts.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Consider if you provide design input or advisory services. Covers claims arising from professional advice.
Contractor's All Risks Insurance
Covers damage to the works during construction. Often required by contracts.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no legal requirement for a CSCS card, but most commercial sites require them as evidence of competence. CSCS cards require passing a health and safety test and demonstrating relevant qualifications or experience. Many clients and principal contractors won't allow workers on site without appropriate cards.
Projects must be notified to HSE if they will last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers at any one time, OR involve more than 500 person-days of work. Notification is done by the client (or someone acting for them) through the HSE website before work starts.
Yes. On domestic projects with multiple contractors, the contractor in control of the construction phase automatically takes on principal contractor duties unless another contractor is specifically appointed. You need to understand and fulfil these duties even without formal appointment.
This depends on the nature of the work and number of workers. As a minimum, you need a first aid kit and an appointed person to take charge in an emergency. Higher-risk sites and larger workforces may need trained first aiders. Consider access to emergency services when assessing needs.
There's no set retention period, but keep them for as long as they're relevant. Review and update when circumstances change. For legal protection, consider keeping records for at least 6 years (the general limitation period for civil claims). Health surveillance records should be kept for 40 years.
Yes. CDM applies to all construction work including maintenance and repair. The same duty holder structure applies. For smaller maintenance projects, the duties are often simpler in practice, but they still exist.
There's no single mandatory qualification for builders. However, you need: asbestos awareness training; any training necessary for the work you do; CSCS or equivalent for most sites. Specific tasks may require additional training - working at height, plant operation, first aid, etc.
Yes. Both employees and the self-employed can refuse work that presents serious and imminent danger. If you're an employee, you have specific legal protection against detriment for raising safety concerns. Document your concerns and the reasons for refusing.
Seek medical attention if needed. Report to your employer/the principal contractor. Record in the accident book. Serious injuries and dangerous occurrences must be reported to HSE under RIDDOR. Preserve evidence and don't continue until the area is safe.
Health surveillance is required for workers regularly exposed to certain hazards: silica dust (lung function testing), noise (hearing checks), hand-arm vibration (symptom questionnaires and testing), certain chemicals. Your risk assessment should identify where health surveillance is needed.
Summary
Building work involves a wide range of health and safety hazards requiring systematic management. The key requirements include:
- CDM compliance - understanding your duties as a contractor and fulfilling them on every project
- Working at height - following the hierarchy and using appropriate equipment
- Manual handling - assessing risks and using mechanical aids where possible
- Silica dust - wet methods, extraction, and proper RPE
- Asbestos - awareness, checking before work, and proper procedures when encountered
- Site safety - securing sites, managing housekeeping, and identifying services
- Health hazards - vibration and noise exposure management
- PPE - appropriate equipment, properly fitted and maintained
The construction industry's safety record has improved significantly over recent decades, but building remains hazardous work. Taking safety seriously isn't just about legal compliance - it protects you, your workers, and your business.
Related content
Topics:
- Working at Height - Fall prevention guidance
- Asbestos - Asbestos awareness and management
- CDM Regulations - Construction design and management
Articles:
Related sectors:
- Construction - CDM and site safety
- Roofers - Roofing-specific guidance
- Electricians - Electrical contractor safety
- Plumbers - Plumbing contractor safety
Tools:
- Responsibility Checker - Find out what applies to you
*This guidance covers key health and safety requirements for UK builders and general contractors. It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.