Content Directory
- Significant health and safety challenges in construction
- Top ten health and safety risks in construction
- Five steps to mitigate risks for construction business owners
- A safer future with CH4B
All businesses in the UK must carefully mitigate health and safety risks, but this is an area of particular concern for the UK’s construction industry.
The cost of workplace injuries and ill health in the construction sector was estimated at a staggering £1.3 billion by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Study, (2021/22). Construction businesses cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to health and safety, and yet so many SME construction business leaders say they are unsure of regulations, and don’t know where to start to ensure that staff and contractors are safe.
The HSE stat’s speak for themselves, construction firms face significant health and safety challenges:
> In the 2023/24 period, there were 51 fatal injuries in the construction sector, an increase from 42 in the previous period. More than half of these deaths were caused by falls from height.
> An estimated 53,000 suffered non-fatal injuries (2020-2023).
> Approximately 69,000 workers reported work-related ill-health, including musculoskeletal disorders, stress, depression or anxiety (2020 – 2023).
These statistics exemplify the critical importance of implementing robust health and safety measures within construction firms to protect workers, and mitigate economic losses to the company.
What are the most prevalent health and safety risks to construction firms?
- Falls from height
- Moving vehicles and heavy machinery
- Manual handling injuries
- Slips, trips and falls
- Exposure to hazardous materials (such as asbestos)
- Electrocution and contact with power lines
- Structure collapse
- Noise and vibration hazards
- Fire and explosion risks
- Mental health and wellbeing
How can construction firms mitigate these risks?
Here, we outline 5 steps construction firm owners can take to mitigate health and safety risks.
Step 1: Schedule regular training
Ensure workers understand risks and safer ways of working through regular training. Provide ongoing refresher training, such as working at height courses, or handling hazardous materials, so that safety is top of mind for everyone. CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) cards are required on most large construction sites, but if you’re a small business, consider making this mandatory to set the standard expected.
CH4B Expert Partner The Bank of Knowledge provide bitesize training courses covering topics such as time management, communication and well-being and mindset in the workplace.
Step 2: Site inductions as standard
Familiarise workers with site-specific hazards and emergency procedures, and ensure it’s mandatory that all workers (including contractors) attend a site induction before commencing work. Provide short, focused safety updates for each site that may include information about specific machinery or tools to avoid complacency in the workplace.
CH4B Expert Partner Safe HR can help construction businesses develop compliant onboarding and management processes for employees.
Step 3: Conduct risk assessments
Conducting risk assessments helps construction firms meet legal obligations under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Every new project or site should be risk assessed, and workers should be involved in hazard identification.
Worknest, a CH4B Expert Partner, can provide a complete health and safety solution that will ensure construction businesses remain compliant, and operate with best practice.
Step 4: Enforce PPE Requirements
This is required under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022. Enforce a strict ‘No PPE, no work’ policy. Protective clothing such as hard hats, visibility vests, eye and ear protection and vital in mitigating daily safety risks to workers. Ensure PPE is easily accessible, and is regularly checked to be in good condition.
Step 5: Deliver a strong safety culture through leadership
Management have the power to encourage a proactive approach to safety, and reduce the risk of accidents caused by negligence or cutting corners. Managers should lead by example and always follow all safety protocols, and encourage open lines of communication for workers to report accidents or concerns, without fear of reprisal. CH4B Expert Partner iTrust provides an anonymous reporting platform that allows organisations to gather feedback, and a safe space for employees to feedback concerns.
Construction firm leaders can demonstrate an extra level of care and concern for employees welfare by providing access to wellbeing experts such as CH4B Expert Partner 360 Wellbeing. For £3.99 per employee per month, workers gain access to GPs, health advisors, mental health helplines and much more. Find out more here: 360 Wellbeing support for SME workers.
By implementing these measures, construction businesses can significantly reduce workplace injuries and fatalities while improving overall site safety.
A safer future with CH4B
CH4B works with SME construction businesses to develop strategic plans for growth, expansion, sustainability and safety. Recently, we helped a fit-out contractor increase turnover from £60k to £1.3m. Our expert NLP qualified business coaches and advisors help ambitious business leaders develop actionable plans for the future.
If you’d like to find out how we can help your business today, book a complimentary Taster Strategy Call.
