CMA4007: Health and Safety in Construction
Health and safety is not merely a regulatory checklist in the UK construction sector; it is a set of life-saving measures. The construction sector's high-risk environments, heavy machinery, and multi-layered operational site aspects necessitate adhering to health and safety protocols to prevent accidents and save lives. The report examines the key components of health and safety practices within the UK construction sector and provides useful details on legal obligations, hazard identification, risk control measures, and plans.
In order to contextualize this discussion we will consider the Grenfell Tower Fire (2017) as a case study. The Grenfell Tower Fire led to 72 fatalities along with substantial risks to occupants and emergency responders. It laid bare the abysmal level of value placed on the construction practice in relation to health and safety processes, materials needed for construction, and fire regulations. We will unpick the incident to understand how law is implemented, identify the failings that led to the devastating fire, and to identify ways to manage and plan to reduce risk for the future.
The report includes consideration of risk assessment, risk control measures, and a practical site safety plan. The report also has commentary and recommendations surrounding the barriers and recommendations for increasing a culture of safety within the construction industry in the United Kingdom.
1. Health and Safety Legislation
The UK construction industry will experience major shifts in health and safety law in 2025, based on lessons learnt from more recent catastrophes, securing compliance, and striving to construct the positive physical and mental health status of each worker's wellbeing.
1.1 Important Legislation and Regulations
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA): This is the main piece of legislation in UK health and safety law. This legislation puts duty on the employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees and other workers.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015): CDM 2015 outlines the ways in which construction projects are to be identified, planned, coordinated with other consultants and managed. CDM 2015 requires everyone involved in the construction project to make reasonable plans to manage risks from start to finish, ensure competence, and communicate risks and controls, and specifically for the client to ensure that there is a suitable Construction Phase Plan in place before work starts.
Building Safety Act 2022: This Act established a new building control regime for higher-risk buildings (HRBs). An HRB is a building that has at least 18 metres in height or has seven or more storeys and at least two residential units, care homes or hospitals. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the Building Safety Regulator and is tasked with overseeing compliance and allocation of risk through various project-defined points (Gateways).
Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: These have increased fire safety needs. Fire risk assessments must be more rigorous and include fire door checks (including safety checks) and provide clear safety instructions to residents of high-rise and multi-occupancy buildings. The responsible person ensures compliance (this person must be especially vigilant in buildings where there is sleeping accommodation).
Mental Health and Wellbeing: There is now a legal expectation for employers to assess and manage mental health-related risks, including stress and psychological harm. More and more mental health first aiders and flexible working arrangements are being regarded as elements of a safe working environment. As outlined on the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) website, employers have a legal duty to manage the risk of harm to mental health, in particular stress and psychological harm. The HSE Management Standards for Work-Related Stress is designed to help systematically identify and effectively manage the risk factors for mental health harm at work. In addition to the HSE guidance, if you already have a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training scheme to support staff to develop and use the right skills and competencies, then it can be much easier.
1.2 Recent and Upcoming Changes
Grenfell Inquiry Recommendations: The government is expected to make additional regulatory changes in light of the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry regarding fire safety in high-rise buildings and unsafe cladding remediation. There may be an expansion of the definition of "higher-risk buildings" to include aspects other than height, where the type of building use and the presence of more vulnerable residents would then also be taken into consideration.
Remediation Acceleration Plan: The government is supporting building remediation of all buildings over 18 m which have unsafe cladding by 2029, with penalties for non-compliance. This will speed up the removal of unsafe cladding materials and increase the accountability of building owners and developers.
Building Safety Levy: Introducing a Building Safety Levy in Autumn 2025. This will require developers to contribute to the cost of building safety changes, with costs for remediation being shared by the leaseholder and taxpayer.
Technical Standards: The new updated BS 9991:2024, which comes into operation on 1 October 2025, proposes to set even higher standards of fire safety for residential buildings. BS 9991:2024 is a fire safety design standard for residential buildings. It defines requirements for automatic fire detection systems, more robust planning of escape routes, and the introduction of sprinklers in certain types of buildings, such as new care homes, to further improve the safety of occupants and the effectiveness of emergency response. This includes mandatory sprinklers in new care homes from 01 March 2025 and improvements in evacuation planning for at-risk residents.
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1.3 Enforcement
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to be the primary enforcement authority with powers of site inspections, improvement notices, prohibition notices and starting proceedings for breach of the law. The HSE is also the Building Safety Regulator of higher-risk buildings (HRBs), which follows the revised building control.
1.4 Developments in the industry
Offsite construction – The rise of modular construction has reduced some risks of working on site (e.g., working at height), but comes with new safety challenges for the transport and assembly.
Digital technology – Wearable technology and digital risk management can be used more actively to monitor and manage safety on site.
In conclusion, UK health and safety regulations in construction in 2025 are more developed and more focused than ever before on fire safety, mental health and accountability. Compliance is an obligation imposed by the law, but it is also a safeguard protecting lives and livelihoods in a transitional and evolving industry.
2. Health and Safety Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis
Identifying health and safety hazards and undertaking risk analysis are fundamental processes in construction to avoid accidents, injuries and fatalities on site. Here is an expert description of how these processes are carried out, drawing upon current best practice and research:
2.1 Identifying Hazards in Construction
Hazard identification is a systematic process to recognise something that will cause harm when undertaking construction-related activities. Hazards in construction fall into the following four types:
Physical hazards - slip, trip, and fall (STF) hazards, contact with moving machinery, noise, vibration, working at height
Chemical hazards - exposure to chemicals such as asbestos, silica (dust), solvents, and fumes from welding
Ergonomic hazards - repetitive motions, heavy lifting, awkward postures, and poorly designed tools
Electrical hazards - contact with live wires, faulty equipment, and poor grounding
Other hazards - confined spaces, fire and/or explosion, instability of a structure.
Hazard Identification Methods
Site investigations and inspections: Walking the site to identify hazards and developing a standardised checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Job Safety Analysis (JSA) or similar Job Hazard Analysis (JHA): Provide an overview of a task, identify the hazards at each step of the task and decide what controls will be put in place.
Consult with workers: They are the best resource due to their experience and knowledge of any hazards that may not be identified readily.
Review incident records and safety data sheets: Review any lessons learnt from past incidents and any hazards associated with a particular material used.
2.3 Risk Analysis and Assessment
Once the hazards have been identified, a risk analysis is conducted to assess:
Likelihood (probability) of occurrence: How likely is it that a hazard will cause harm?
Severity (consequence) of outcome: If harm occurs, how serious would that harm be?
A risk matrix is often used for that purpose, rating each hazard as low, medium, or high risk using these two factors.
|
Hazard |
Likelihood |
Severity |
Risk Rating |
|
Working at height |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
Blocked Fire exit |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
Poor Fire Signage |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
|
Inadequate Fire Drills |
Low |
High |
Medium |
This structured approach helps prioritise which hazards require the most urgent controls.
Significance of the Process
Accurate hazard recognition and risk evaluation are necessary for:
Providing injury and fatality prevention.
Supporting compliance with regulations in the UK (i.e., HSE obligations).
Facilitating a safer, more productive work environment.
Review/assign hazards and risk assessments routinely, as site conditions and project phases are always changing.
In summary,
Effective hazard recognition and structured risk evaluation, considering inspection, workers' input and a defined risk matrix, are the foundations of safety management for construction sites and are part of the UK health and safety legislation.
3. Control Mechanisms
Control measures in construction health and safety are organised in a hierarchy of controls and are designed to systematically reduce or eliminate risk. Below is a summary of these control measures, who is responsible for implementation and the rationale for each based on current UK industry guidance:
3.1 Hierarchy of Controls and Liability
Elimination - Flammable cladding material removed completely. Liability - Project Manager, Procurement.
Substitution - Non-combustible, fire-resistant cladding and insulation provided. Liability - Design Team, Suppliers.
Engineering Control - Fire breaks, smoke vents, and compartmentalisation are in place for spreading fire. Liability - Site Engineers, Contractors.
Administrative Control - Rigorous fire safety control measures with a strong routine of safety briefings and evacuation procedures established. Liability - Site Manager, Site Safety Officers.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - A range of fire-resistant clothing, helmets, gloves, and harnesses for workers is provided. Liability - Site Supervisor.
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3.2 Justification
Elimination and substitution are the most effective, as seen in the post-Grenfell regulations, which prohibit combustible cladding on high-rise buildings.
Engineering controls, like fire barriers, are recommended by the HSE and the industry.
Administrative controls ensure that all staff are aware of procedures and everyone participates in regularly scheduled drills.
PPE is critical for individual protection, but should never be relied upon to be a single means of protection.
The Grenfell inquiry reinforced the importance of sound design choices and exacting standards for fire safety, and deficiencies in both decision-making for materials and management were evident.
Site safety plan
A site safety plan is an all-encompassing document that needs to be prepared for any construction project in the UK, which outlines how health, safety and welfare will be managed during the construction stage. A site safety plan needed to be produced before site work commenced, but should be adjusted as work progressed so that emerging risks and changes in scope could be reflected.
An overall site safety plan for a refurbishment project such as Grenfell Tower should consider:
Employee Training and Communication: All employees going through a mandatory induction, toolbox talks are held regularly; clear signage is available in various languages.
Monitoring and Verification: Site safety officers and supervisors routinely conduct daily inspections of the site; at least once a week, an inspection will be carried out on fire safety systems and equipment; regular audits from the employer will check if regulations regarding PPE have been followed.
Emergency Procedures: Fire exits are clearly marked; routes of escape include access to fire extinguishers and first aid kits within a reasonable distance; regular fire drills will be conducted to ensure that workers and residents understand the process of evacuation.
Establish a communication plan to advertise by completing an emergency reporting system and contacting your local fire service.
5. Reflection and Recommendations
There are many challenges facing the average construction industry in relation to health and safety enforcement, to name a few are complex supply chains, cost pressures, a vast array of skills and competencies, and the need for continuous training. The Grenfell Tower tragedy illustrates the very real dangers of putting savings above safety and planning for safety in the first instance. The Grenfell incident showed how fragmented responsibility can have serious implications for residents and the lasting impacts they may encounter.
Recommendations:
Leaders must demonstrate safety as an absolute priority, and an approximation to outsourcing responsibility entails a firm commitment to continual safety improvement.
Encourage training and communication, specifically in multicultural and multilingual workforces.
Instil regulatory control and enforcement, the frequency of inspections, and firm protocol for urgent action if non-compliance is discovered.
Promote the use of innovative and fire-resistant materials and technologies.
Involve residents and end-users in safety planning, particularly in the context of occupied buildings.
Conclusion
The Grenfell Tower fire provides a reminder of the need for health and safety in the UK construction industry, and there is a pressing case for legislation and risk assessments and control measures to improve lives by avoiding disasters from happening. Continuous improvement, accountability, and proactive safety culture are essential for any future sustainable development. If we in the UK construction industry can successfully learn from what has gone wrong in the past, we can also be able to put the best practices in place to ensure the safety and future of workers and the public can be ensured more safely in the future.
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References
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). About HSE.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015): L153 Managing health and safety in construction. HSE Books.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Work at height: A brief guide.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). The Shard: Engineering a Vertical City.
OnSite Support. Why Is Construction Safety Important?.
WSP. Engineering The Shard, London.
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