Regulations & Legislations

Within the UK there are a plethora of health and safety regulations that serve to protect all aspects of our society. In this section we will look at the pertinent regulations that apply specifically to the construction industry and the work that we as individuals will carry out. It’s worth noting that whilst this information specifically relates to UK legislation, most developed countries will have very similar rules and regulations in place to protect their workers. It’s important for us to be aware of these regulations and understand the implications of them.

As follows is a list of all pertinent rules, regulations, and legislations as they relate to the construction industry. All of the information below is cited from the UK Government and HSE websites/ safety booklets.  

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The “Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974” (HASAWA) is an act of Parliament by which the fundamental rules and guidelines for health and safety in the workplace within the UK were outlined. It highlights the safety related responsibilities that all employers have towards their employees, as well as the responsibilities that employees have towards themselves and the others around them. This act also saw the introduction of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) as an official government body, tasked with monitoring statistics pertaining to health and safety, as well as performing checks and enforcing health and safety rules and guidelines on large sites.  

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER)

The “Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992” (PPER) are a set of regulations that outline the responsibilities of an employer in providing their employees with suitable PPE relevant to the tasks that are expected to be carried out. The regulations state that any PPE found to be necessary for a task after the undertaking of a risk assessment must be provided free of charge to the employee by the employer. A 2022 update to these regulations changes the terminology pertaining to who an employee is, extended the coverage of the requirements to a wider range of scenarios and working environments. The update to the regulations has not changed the duties of the employers and employees.  

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

The “Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998” (PUWER) are a set of regulations that denote the responsibilities of companies and their workers, in relation to the safe use and maintenance of workplace equipment. The HSE website highlights the critical aspects of this act by stating -   

“PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work is:

●       suitable for the intended use

●       safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate

●       used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training

●       accompanied by suitable health and safety measures, such as protective devices and controls. These will normally include guarding, emergency stop devices, adequate means of isolation from sources of energy, clearly visible markings and warning devices” 

Alongside this set of regulations pertaining to work equipment, some specific pieces of equipment fall under other specific legislations, such lifting equipment falling under the umbrella of the “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)” 

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

The “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998” (LOLER) are a set of regulations that extensively cover the use and responsibility of care regarding lifting equipment. These regulations state, among other things, that all lifting equipment should be adequately maintained by trained operatives, and that the use of appropriate lifting equipment should be carried out by and supervised by trained operatives. The act highlights who is liable/responsible for the lifting equipment and lifting operations and dictates the requirement for risk assessments to be undertaken before lifting operations.  

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) (MHOR)

“The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended)” (MHOR) are a set of regulations that outline the potential risks associated with manual handling, how to identify them, and how to reduce the risk of injury whilst carrying out related tasks. “Manual handling” is defined by this act as -

"...any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force". 

With many heavy components involved in the construction industry, this set of regulations proves very important in the risk assessment factor of manual handling. Through a company's individual risk assessment on manual handling tasks, everyone should be able to stay safe. In the HSE manual handling leaflet, broad guidelines state that adult males should not attempt to lift items weighing more than 25kg from the ground, with items weighing more than 10kg not being lifted above the head.  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005

“The Work at Height Regulations 2005” are a set of regulations that outline the responsibilities of employers, employees, and contractors whilst working at height. The intention of the act is to prevent death and injury as a result of negligence at height. All work carried out at height must be planned accordingly, with full risk assessments and method statements carried out and written up. The work must be carried out and supervised by trained operatives, with all required equipment and materials to be used in accordance with the other pertinent health and safety regulations. Under this act, it is also the employees’ responsibility to fall in line with the appropriate documentation and take reasonable care of themselves and the others around them. 

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 act (RIDDOR)

“The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 act” (RIDDOR), is a vastly important legislation that highlights the responsibilities of employers and employees in relation to reporting health and safety related incidents to the HSE. The legislation dictates the obligation for employers and employees to report accidents and dangerous occurrences where applicable in relation to workplace activities. There is also a requirement for all employers under this legislation to keep and maintain an accident logbook. Information collected under these regulations can be used by HSE and companies to identify near misses and potential hazards, providing valuable feedback and turning focus to areas that require improvement.   

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (CoSHH)

The “Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002” (CoSHH) is an act highlighting the requirements and responsibilities of employers, in the protection of their employees and the public, in terms of exposure to hazardous materials. Similarly to the other acts, it also highlights the responsibilities of the employees to take reasonable care whilst using hazardous materials. Employers must carry out appropriate risk assessments in relation to the use of hazardous materials, and all prevention and incident safety equipment must be present during work involving said materials. This act also states that the breach of regulations by either employer or employee, is a punishable legal offence. These incidents are overseen by the HSE.