Health and safety in construction

In the fast-paced world of construction, safety is of paramount importance. From home extensions to infrastructure projects that shape our country, the welfare of workers and the public is our first consideration.

When it comes to creating a culture of safety, construction companies must have robust processes and systems in place.

• Health and safety legislation
• Common hazards in the construction industry
• Implementing health and safety on construction sites
• Safety planning and risk assessment in construction projects
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction
• Training and education for construction safety
• Construction site inspections and audits
• Creating a culture of safety on construction sites
• Site Manager Compliance Kit
• SSIP Accreditation
• HSG150 health and safety in construction

Health and safety legislation

Health and safety legislation in the workplace is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974This legislation sets out the duties of employers, employees, and others. 

Responsibilities of employers

• Assess risks: Identify risks to employees, customers, and others 
• Create a policy: Have a written health and safety policy if they employ five or more people 
• Provide training: Ensure staff are adequately trained 
• Provide welfare: Ensure adequate welfare provisions are available 
• Provide information: Ensure employees have access to relevant information, instruction, and supervision 
• Consult employees: Consult employees about risks and preventive measures 

Responsibilities of employees 

• Have a duty of care to themselves and others

Other construction-related health and safety legislation

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002
• Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
• Work at Height Regulations 2005

Common hazards in the construction industry

The construction industry is fraught with hazards that can lead to serious accidents if not properly managed.

• There were 51 fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24
• 47,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries at work averaged over the three years 2021/22-2023/24

One of the most prevalent risks is falls, which can occur from heights such as scaffolding, ladders, or roofs.

Another common hazard is the risk of being struck by objects. This can happen when tools or materials are improperly secured or when heavy machinery is involved.

Construction site workers are often close to moving equipment, and the potential for accidents increases.

Exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos and silica dust, poses a significant risk.

Implementing health and safety on construction sites

Implementing health and safety processes and systems on construction sites is essential. Many clients now insist that contractors hold a minimum health and safety standard. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) implemented the standard. SSIP is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments. CHAS and PQS are suppliers of the standard.

Below is a health and safety checklist for a typical site construction setup

• Company health and safety policy
• Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan (CDM 2015), which can be easily amended and edited for specific projects
• Site setup check sheet
• Site Rules
• Site Induction
• Site Registers – PPE, Plant & Equipment etc
• Permits to Work – Confined Space, Excavation, Hot Work, Asbestos, etc
• Site inspection Check Sheets – Scaffold, Dumper, Excavator etc
• Risk assessments and method statements
• COSHH data sheets
• Toolbox training
• Worker training records

Safety planning and risk assessment in construction projects

Planning work operations is a key factor in keeping people safe on-site. The process is to develop a method statement of how the work will be executed and then develop a risk assessment. The risk assessment analyses the risks and looks at ways to mitigate them. The project planner may adjust the method statements if the risk assessment finds that the risk is too high.

Ready for use Risk assessment and method statements templates.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defence to keep people safe. PPE can include the following:

• Hard hat
• His visibility vests and trousers
• Ear protection
• Eye protection
• Lung protection
• Hand protection
• Skin protection
• Foot protection

The site manager must ensure that their workers are provided with the necessary equipment and trained on how to use it effectively. A PPE register is vital to control who had what and when.

Site training

Training and education are fundamental for a safe construction site. On-site training includes:

• Site induction
• Toolbox talks
• Health and safety essential training
  • Site safety awareness training
  • Fire awareness training
  • Manual handling training
  • Abrasive wheel training
  • Working at height training
  • Risk assessment training

On-site e-learning to train site workers saves time and cost.

A training register is vital to control who had what and when.

Construction site inspections and audits

Regular inspections and audits of construction sites are critical for ensuring ongoing health and safety compliance.

Inspections help identify potential hazards that may have arisen since the last inspection and ensure that safety measures are effectively implemented.

Inspections can be conducted by internal safety officers or external auditors, providing an objective perspective on the effectiveness of the site’s safety practices.

Creating a culture of safety on construction sites

Creating a safety culture begins with a commitment from leadership to prioritise health and safety measures at all levels of the organisation.

By communicating that health and safety are priorities in the company culture, workers will feel empowered to work safely and promote safety with their workmates.

Site Manager Compliance Kit

Overview

The Site Manager Compliance Kit is an essential tool for every contractor. The Compliance Kit contains all of the information and documentation needed to comply with the requirements of today’s Safety Regulations.

Includes

• Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan (CDM 2015), which can be easily amended and edited for specific projects
• 70 Toolbox Talk Documents
• 65 Completed Risk Assessments
• 41 COSHH Assessments
• Site inspection Check Sheets – Scaffold, Dumper, Excavator etc
• Permits to Work – Confined Space, Excavation, Hot Work, Asbestos, etc
• Site set-up check sheet
• Site Induction
• Site Rules
• Site Registers – PPE, Plant & Equipment etc

Review the Site Manager Compliance Kit

CHAS Accreditation

If you want to implement CHAS, we can help you achieve this goal.

The CHAS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment and Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Responsible Person
• Contractor
• Declaration

Review CHAS accreditation

HSG150 health and safety in construction

HSG150 Health and Safety in Construction explains the essential tasks for achieving healthy and safe construction sites.

It helps the reader to identify hazards and control risks and explains how to plan, organise, control, monitor and review health and safety throughout the life of a project.

It is aimed at everybody involved in construction work, including clients, designers, contractors and individual workers. Clients, designers and others who specify construction work may also find the book useful.

Download HSG150

Introduction

Our fully approved, health and safety online training courses are perfect for gaining qualifications for you and your employees. We can deliver all the training you need for an SSIP assessment and all essential health and safety awareness.

Our engaging courses can be taken at any time, in any place and on any device. All courses are approved and priced to offer the best possible value to your business.

FREE Trial

You can sign up here for a free trial of our health and safety online training courses.

A trial account gives you free access to the first module of all our available courses.

Any progress you make will be saved, so if you decide to buy, you can continue from where you left off.

So complete the form on this page to get instant access, and let’s get started.

Start your FREE trial

Available health and safety online training courses

You can also select a course you are interested in and click on the FREE trial button on the course. Select any courses from the list below:

The courses available are:

• First Aid Training
• Asbestos Training
• Legionella Training
• Abrasive Wheels Training
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Training
• Display Screen Equipment Training
• Fire Safety Training
• Food Safety Training
• Level 1 Health & Safety in a Construction Environment
• Manual Handling Training
• Working at Height Training
• Working Safely Training
• Working in Confined Spaces
• CDM Awareness
• Introduction to Personal Safety for Lone Workers
• Behavioural Safety
• Introduction to Risk Assessment
• Electrical Safety
• Noise Awareness
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Safeguarding Training
• Positive Handling in Schools
• Prevent Duty

Need support

Once you have seen what we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we will be happy to set you up with your health and safety online training solution.

If you get stuck or need some help feel free to get in touch.

PQS accreditation

Find out what PQS accreditation is and how it can save you money and streamline health and safety assessments.

A PQS accreditation is an approved SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) accreditation.

SSIP is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

SSIP does not carry out the assessments; 30 companies, including PQS, do that.

Why PQS

PQS has designed the most efficient and affordable SSIP accreditation certification process.

PQS was set up to be the most affordable and straightforward SSIP member scheme in the UK market while retaining great value and simple processes.

The deem to satisfy scheme developed by SSIP means a PQS certificate is equal to all other suppliers, for example, CHAS, Constructionline, and Safe Contractor.

While SSIP schemes save money on processes and simplify health and safety procurement for suppliers, they are priced quite differently in the UK market.

SSIP approval is recognised UK-wide, and its purpose is to save contractors time tendering for work.

PQS is approved for all SSIP Categories and/or CDM Duty holders across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

For organisations in the United Kingdom, we can provide all the following categories:

– SSIP Approved
– SSIP Approved: Contractor
– SSIP Approved: Principal Contractor
– SSIP Approved: Designer
– SSIP Approved: Principal Designer
– SSIP Approved: IE Contractor
– SSIP Approved: IE Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS)
– SSIP Approved: IE Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP)
– SSIP Approved: IE Designer

PQS assessment criteria

The PQS assessment criteria are the same as those of all SSIP suppliers. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

The PQS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Arrangements
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Individual Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment Leading to a Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Contractor
• Principal Contractor
• Designer

Save up to £500 with your SSIP assessment renewal.

Don’t miss the deadline for your SSIP assessment renewal. Ensure your business stays compliant.

The problem

CHAS and other SSIP providers raise their assessment fees annually, increasing costs. An American corporation owns CHAS, and their fees have been raised yearly. They are now very high compared to other SSIP accreditation suppliers.

We have a solution

There are over thirty SSIP accreditation suppliers who all do the same thing, to the same standard. The standard is controlled by SSIP, which was created to develop a fair playing field and reduce costs.

CHAS is the most popular and well-known; however, the suppliers below are also prominent and are much more economical than CHAS.

Our preferred SSIP assessment renewal supplier is PQS; they have the lowest fees and are great to deal with. They have a good customer service team and have created easy-to-use systems to complete the accreditation documentation.

Our preferred SSIP supplier list.

• CHAS
• PQS
• Construction line
• Safe Contractor
• SMAS
• CQMA
• Builders profile
• Avetta

What will an SSIP accreditation cover?

All assessments are completed using the SSIP Core Criteria as the threshold standard and cover the following:

• Health & Safety policy
• Competent Advice
• Training arrangements
• Monitoring, audit and review
• Workforce involvement
• Accident reporting and enforcement action
• Subcontracting/consulting
• Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
• Cooperations with others
• Welfare provision
• Hazard elimination

The assessment completed will be proportionate and relevant to the type of work you undertake and the size of your business, noting the size of your business will include any labour staff working for you.

About PQS accreditation

The PQS is an accreditation supplier and SSIP member. PQS charge a much lower fee than CHAS, saving you up to £500 depending on your type of accreditation.

There is no difference between CHAS and PQS; they are SSIP members and work according to the same rules and guidance.

If you are worried that your customers are asking for CHAS, it’s OK, as SSIP allow you to obtain a CHAS certificate even when PQS has accredited you through their deem to satisfy process.

If your SSIP accreditation is coming up for renewal, contact us, and we can advise you on the best solution for your business and budget.

Complete the form below, and we will contact you and provide you with some support.

Do I need to be a CHAS accredited contractor?

If you are self-employed or a small contractor do you need to be a CHAS accredited contractor. You may be asked to get CHAS or other SSIP certificate. Let us explain the situation to you.

Domestic Market

If you work in the domestic market and want to sail close to the wind, the answer is no, as homeowners will not insist that you work safely.

However, you have a duty of care for yourself and others under UK health and safety legislation. Even working in the domestic market, you will be in trouble if you have a terrible accident or cause harm to others.

Construction Market

The answer is yes if you work in the construction market or want to work there. You will need to have a recognised standard of health and safety.

Main contractors and clients such as local authorities insist that everyone who works for them has a standard of health and safety. They insist as it is part of their health and safety systems.

The most well-known standard is CHAS, but there are other providers of the same standard under the SSIP umbrella. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is a organisation that manages accreditation suppliers, to ensure they work to the same standards.

The size of your business matters

If you are self-employed or a small contractor with less than 5 employees, you need CHAS or similar, SSIP but you will not be required to employ a competent person safety advisor.

You must employ a competent person safety advisor if you employ 5 or more people, including sub-contractors or other self-employed people. The easiest way to do this is to use a remote competent person safety advisor. We offer this service.

What is CHAS

The Core Criteria and the threshold standard of CHAS and all the other SSIP accreditations  is as follows:

• Health & safety policy
• Competent Advice
• Training arrangements
• Monitoring, audit and review
• Workforce involvement
• Accident reporting and enforcement action
• Subcontracting/consulting
• Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
• Cooperations with others
• Welfare provision
• Hazard elimination

The Good News

We are here to support you through the process; we can prepare all the documents, complete the registration forms, and simplify the process. CHAS is expensive, but other providers are very economical. The best thing to do is chat with us and learn more; we can tell you about the costs and the time frame. Our number is 0800 031 5404, or you can complete the form below.

CHAS assessment criteria

The CHAS assessment criteria are the same as those of all SSIP suppliers. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

The CHAS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Arrangements
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Individual Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment Leading to a Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Contractor
• Principal Contractor
• Designer

Below is a flavour of the detail required for the first five parts of the CHAS application.

Policy

The Health and Safety Policy should be:

• In the correct company name (As listed on the CHAS 2013 Ltd application)
•  Dated within the last 12 months
• Approved by the appropriate company director / responsible person
• Lists the persons with health and safety responsibilities and sets out the responsibilities of H&S management throughout the organisation.

We can make the process of the CHAS application easy for you by doing it for you.

Arrangements

The arrangements section of the Health and Safety policy should include but not limited to the following:

• Accident reporting, including RIDDOR, first aid and work-related ill health 
• Training
• Information, instruction & supervision
• Communication
• Risk assessment
• Monitoring
• Emergency procedures
• Asbestos
• COVID -19

Occupational Health

The policy or arrangements should include the following:

• Measures to raise awareness of these issues such as posters and toolbox talks

• How the workforce can access help and support if suffering from these issues Health & Safety Assessment Guidance v1.0 (website) 05/07/2023 Uncontrolled document when printed Page 2 of 13 Classification: PUBLIC • How the workforce is trained to handle these issues such as access to accredited mental health first aid training.

Behavioural Management

The supporting evidence must confirm that there are documented arrangements in place for a behavioural management or behavioural safety programme.

Enforcement Actions

Details of any enforcement notices (Prohibition, Improvement or Crown) or prosecutions served on your company in the last five years by the HSE or Local Authority and the remedial actions taken to prevent a reoccurrence. A prosecution or notice will not debar the business from registration but a failure to declare one could – please note that CHAS will check the HSE public register of convictions.

Accident Reporting and Investigation

Supporting Information:

• Documented arrangements for the recording, reporting, and reporting of accidents (Including RIDDOR reportable accidents).

• Records of all RIDDOR-reportable and other incidents for at least the last three years, including remedial actions to prevent a reoccurrence.
• Records of any other accidents within the last three years, including the remedial actions to prevent a reoccurrence. The accident statistics for the last three years incorporating the following categories: Health & Safety Assessment Guidance v1.0 (website) 05/07/2023 Uncontrolled document when printed Page 3 of 13 Classification: PUBLIC
• Deaths
• Specified Injuries
• Over 3 days incapacitated
• Over 7 days Incapacitated
• Injuries to non-workers
• Occupational Diseases
• Dangerous Occurrences
• Gas Incidents

Chas assessment standards

Learn more about CHAS

We have a series of articles where you can learn more about CHAS. The list of articles is below:

• What is CHAS
• CHAS accreditations
• CHAS registration
• Guide to CHAS
• CHAS renewal
• CHAS accreditation cost
• SIPP accreditation and CHAS
• CHAS deem to satisfy
• CHAS Training Guidance
• Competent person and CHAS
• CHAS support

CHAS Support

A CHAS application can be daunting if you are not a health and safety advisor or have had no formal training in health and safety such as NEBOSH or similar.

What Is CHAS?

CHAS stands for (the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) and is underneath the umbrella of SSIP.

The CHAS assessment criteria are the same as those of all SSIP suppliers. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

Many companies and government bodies require an SSIP accreditation before they allow you to tender.

The CHAS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Arrangements
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Individual Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment Leading to a Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Contractor
• Principal Contractor
• Designer

Our CHAS application process

Step 1. Register for an account with CHAS and choose the membership level you require.

Step 2. Purchase the associated Support Package via our website or by calling us.

Step 3. We will contact you to request specific documentation. The information we require varies depending on the type of CHAS application selected.

Step 4. We review your documents and implement anything missing, then upload all evidence to your CHAS portal and submit for assessment.

Step 5. You will receive your CHAS-compliant certificate and enjoy all the benefits of demonstrating compliance.

WHY select Seguro to support you with your CHAS application

We have over 20 years of industry experience and complete over 500 applications yearly.

As part of our hassle-free and in-depth service, we’ll complete the CHAS registration form on your behalf and prepare supporting documents as and when necessary.

CHAS registration requires you to have a recognised health and safety management standard and covers compliance issues regarding your field of work.

Once we have received the information we require from you, we aim to have your CHAS application submitted for assessment within five business days, although this is often even sooner.

Our fees are the most cost-effective available. We will do the work while you get on with your job, saving you time and money.

We will assign you a dedicated health and safety professional offering CHAS support throughout the process. We can implement policies, arrangements and procedures, assist with assessments like RAMS and provide training to your workforce. When we have completed the application, you will have everything you need to pass the CHAS accreditation.

Testimonials

Spinney Electrical

I would just like to thank you for all your help patients & time.

Finally!! Feeling relieved.

Vicky

13th February 2023

City Dispense

We’ve passed again, thank you for your help

Regards

Andy  | Director

9th February 2023

Hyperion

I just wanted to send you a quick email about the amazing staff you have on your team.

Natasha has been dealing with Hyperion for a couple of years now, and we have received nothing but exceptional service from this young lady. I get the quickest responses, with as much help as possible provided every single time. She has gone above and beyond for myself and Mark every time I have spoken to her.

I thought I would just share this with you as I feel her remarkable customer service and attitude towards the job should most definitely be recognised, and she’s an absolute credit to yourself and the rest of the team.

Thanks to all at Seguro

Kind Regards

Saskia

26th February 2020

Learn more about CHAS

We have a series of articles where you can learn more about CHAS. The list of articles is below:

• What is CHAS
• CHAS accreditations
• CHAS registration
• Guide to CHAS
• CHAS renewal
• CHAS accreditation cost
• SIPP accreditation and CHAS
• CHAS assessment criteria
• CHAS deem to satisfy
• CHAS Training Guidance
• Competent person and CHAS

Toolbox talk alcohol and drugs

This toolbox talk alcohol and drugs cover the effects of alcohol and drugs on your safety and others at work.

Alcohol

1. In a high-risk industry like ours, alcohol and work are not compatible.
2. Alcohol is a depressant drug, which depresses parts of the brain function. When working on-site, you require all of your brain functions to save you from injury.
3. If you’re found to be intoxicated with alcohol, you won’t be allowed on site. You may end up losing your job.
4. Don’t get drunk the night before and expect to work safely on site the next day. Alcohol takes time to work out of your system (1 pint of beer takes approximately 2 hours).
5. 50% of all drivers killed are over the legal limit.
6. If you drink, don’t drive.
7.  Some workplace fatal accidents are alcohol-related.
8. Keep your head clear – leave your drinking sessions to social events, where you can’t cause injury to yourself or others.
9. Get a bad reputation for drinking, and you may not get another job as you’ll be seen as a liability.

Drugs

1. You are far more likely to have an accident on site when you are under the influence of drugs.
2. Drugs prescribed by your doctor could make you unfit for work, as can illegal drugs.
3. You may feel you don’t have a drug problem – it’s got nothing to do with you.  But if you get hurt, it’s a bit late to wonder what the other person was on.
4. If you know somebody is on drugs, tell your supervisor – help to stamp it out.
5. Signs to look for, watery eyes, pinpoint or dilated pupils, running nose, constant sniffing, tight lips, sores, ulcers, trembling, fatigue and irritability. If you see it, report it.
6. All drugs can affect your ability to work safely.
7. Some effects of drugs: slow reaction times, clumsiness, poor decision-making and distorted vision.
8. Don’t take ‘E’s – ‘E’ stands for ‘Ex-employee’.
9.  If you get offered drugs, say no, you’d rather work safely!
10. Drugs and work don’t mix.  Don’t let it become a problem.

Note to supervisor:  Now inform your workforce of the company policy regarding alcohol and drug abuse.

Do you have any questions for me?

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What are toolbox talks

Toolbox talk alcohol and drugs