Construction Industry Health & Safety Legislation
Operating in the construction industry requires strict adherence to a range of health and safety laws and regulations. Failure to comply can result in severe penalties, work stoppages, and even legal action.
BESA provides comprehensive guidance and resources to help members understand and adhere to the many health and safety laws, regulations, and codes of practice governing the construction industry.
We work closely with the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) and industry safety bodies such as IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) and BSC (British Safety Council).
UK Construction Industry Health and Safety Legislation
There are a number of regulations covering health and safety in the UK construction industry including:
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 - Provides core rules around managing health, safety and welfare when carrying out construction projects. It covers duties for clients, designers, principal contractors and contractors. It requires suitable construction phase plans, welfare facilities, training and more.
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005 - Sets out requirements for working safely at height and covers areas like risk assessments, appropriate work equipment, inspections and training.
- The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012- Specifies measures for safely managing asbestos materials during construction/demolition. It requires surveys, notifications, control measures and proper disposal.
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 - Lays out safety requirements for lifting operations and equipment like cranes. It covers requirements for strength, stability, personnel, through examinations.
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 - Stipulates rules around using equipment safely at work. It covers areas like inspection, maintenance, information and training.
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 - Sets out responsibilities for providing and using appropriate PPE. It outlines processes for assessing, maintaining and replacing PPE.
- The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981- Requires adequate first aid equipment, facilities and trained personnel
- The Building Safety Act 2022 - introduces a number of new requirements and regulations aimed at improving building safety, especially for high-rise residential buildings.
Health & Safety in Electrical Engineering
For electrical engineering projects, additional regulations like the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and BS 7671 for wiring standards must be followed.
How BESA Can Help Ensure Compliance with Construction Industry Health & Safety Legislation
As a member of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), you can have confidence that your company is staying up-to-date on all applicable construction industry health and safety legislation in the UK.
Simplifying Construction Industry Health & Safety Compliance
BESA provides comprehensive guidance and resources to help members understand and adhere to the many health and safety laws, regulations, and codes of practice governing the construction industry. Our technical experts monitor changes to legal requirements for health and safety in construction on an ongoing basis. We update our member resources promptly to reflect new regulations, revised codes of practice, and emerging best practices for compliance.
From general site safety and welfare, to working at height, asbestos handling, equipment inspections and more, our resources map out the specific legal requirements and official guidance for construction health and safety compliance.
Access to Construction Health & Safety Resources
The in-house team of health and safety experts at BESA offers advice and support via the BESA Members' Resource Area, where you can download free templates and guidance documents, including risk assessment templates, health and safety policies and procedures and access BESA Health & Safety Bulletins.
BESA members can also book a private one-to-one session with BESA's Head of Health and Safety, Rebecca Crosland, to discuss any construction-related health and safety legislation queries and get tailored support.
Our Commitment to Health & Safety in the UK Construction Industry
We're committed to promoting safe working conditions through helping our members achieve full compliance with all applicable construction health and safety regulations and codes of practice.
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