Every major regulation, act, and statutory instrument that affects UK construction projects -- all in one place with links to official sources.
The foundation of UK health and safety law. Places general duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees at work. Also covers duties to non-employees affected by work activities.
View on legislation.gov.uk →Introduced after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Establishes the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the HSE, creates new dutyholder roles, introduces the "golden thread" of building information for higher-risk buildings (18m+ or 7+ storeys), and strengthens resident voice provisions. Fully in force from October 2023.
View on legislation.gov.uk →Provides the legal framework for building regulations in England and Wales. Grants powers for local authorities to enforce building standards and take action against non-compliant work.
View on legislation.gov.uk →Imposes duties on those who take on work to provide or arrange dwellings. Extended by the Building Safety Act 2022 to allow retrospective claims up to 30 years for cladding-related defects.
View on legislation.gov.uk →The primary regulations for managing health, safety, and welfare on construction projects. Defines duties for clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers, contractors, and workers. Applies to ALL construction work in the UK regardless of size. Replaced CDM 2007.
Key duty holders: Client, Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, Designers, Contractors, Workers
Key documents required: Construction Phase Plan, Pre-construction Information, Health & Safety File
HSE CDM 2015 Guidance →The official ACOP for CDM 2015 published by HSE. Provides practical guidance on how to comply with the regulations. While not law itself, following the ACOP is considered sufficient compliance.
View L153 on HSE →Set minimum standards for design, construction, and alteration of buildings. Organised into Approved Documents A through S covering structure, fire safety, ventilation, drainage, electrical safety, and more. Regularly updated -- check for the latest amendments.
Approved Documents on GOV.UK →Covers fire safety requirements including means of warning and escape, internal fire spread (linings and structure), external fire spread, and access/facilities for the fire service. Significantly updated post-Grenfell with a ban on combustible materials on buildings over 18m.
View Approved Document B →Sets energy efficiency standards for new and existing buildings. The 2021 edition introduced significantly higher standards as a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard, requiring a 31% reduction in carbon emissions for new homes compared to previous standards.
View Approved Document L →The newest Approved Document, requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new residential and non-residential buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation.
View Approved Document S →Requires employers to carry out risk assessments, appoint competent persons, establish emergency procedures, and provide health surveillance where appropriate. The backbone of workplace risk management.
View on legislation.gov.uk →Requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances. In construction, this covers dust (silica, wood, cement), solvents, paints, adhesives, asbestos fibres, and more. COSHH assessments must be carried out before work with any hazardous substance.
HSE COSHH Guidance →Sets the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings. Requires asbestos surveys before refurbishment or demolition. Work with asbestos must be done by licensed contractors (with some exceptions for low-risk work). The single largest cause of work-related deaths in the UK.
HSE Asbestos Guidance →Applies to all work at height where there is a risk of falling. Requires planning, appropriate equipment, competent workers, and inspection of equipment. Falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction.
HSE Work at Height Guidance →Sets exposure limits and action values for noise. Lower exposure action value is 80 dB(A), upper is 85 dB(A), and the exposure limit is 87 dB(A). Employers must assess noise risks, provide hearing protection, and carry out health surveillance.
HSE Noise Guidance →Sets exposure limits for hand-arm vibration (HAV) and whole-body vibration (WBV). In construction, HAV from power tools like breakers, grinders, and drills is a significant risk causing conditions like vibration white finger (HAVS).
HSE Vibration Guidance →Requires employers to report certain workplace injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE. Reportable incidents include fatalities, specified injuries, over-7-day incapacitation, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences (e.g. scaffold collapse, crane overturning).
HSE RIDDOR Guidance →Updated in 2022 to extend PPE duties to workers (not just employees). Requires employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. PPE must be properly assessed, maintained, stored, and workers must be trained in its use.
HSE PPE Guidance →Applies to work in confined spaces where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of serious injury. Common construction confined spaces include manholes, tunnels, excavations, tanks, and voids. Requires risk assessment, safe system of work, and emergency arrangements.
HSE Confined Spaces Guidance →Requires all lifting operations to be properly planned, supervised, and carried out safely. Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at specified intervals (6 months for equipment lifting persons, 12 months otherwise). Applies to cranes, hoists, lifts, MEWPs, chains, slings, and eyebolts.
HSE LOLER Guidance →Requires that all work equipment is suitable, maintained, inspected, and that users are adequately trained. Covers everything from hand tools to complex machinery. Equipment must have appropriate guards, controls, markings, and warnings.
HSE PUWER Guidance →Implements the EU Machinery Directive in UK law. Sets essential health and safety requirements for the design and manufacture of machinery placed on the market. Requires CE/UKCA marking and declaration of conformity.
HSE Machinery Safety →Requires all electrical systems and equipment to be constructed, maintained, and used to prevent danger. In construction, covers temporary electrical installations, portable tools, generators, and site distribution. Regular inspection and testing (PAT) is essential.
HSE Electrical Safety →Covers waste management, statutory nuisance (including construction noise and dust), and contaminated land. Construction sites must properly manage waste through the waste hierarchy: prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, dispose.
View on legislation.gov.uk →Although the legal requirement for SWMPs was removed in 2013, it remains best practice (and often a contractual requirement) to produce waste management plans for construction projects. Helps reduce waste, track disposal, and demonstrate environmental compliance.
Allows contractors to apply for "prior consent" from local authorities for construction works that may cause noise or vibration nuisance. Provides a defence against noise nuisance complaints if the consent conditions are followed.
View Section 61 →Makes it an offence to cause or knowingly permit polluting matter to enter controlled waters. Construction sites must implement pollution prevention measures including silt fences, settlement tanks, bunded fuel storage, and spill kits.
GOV.UK Pollution Prevention →While largely superseded by CDM 2015, some welfare provisions remain relevant. Covers safe places of work, prevention of falls, stability of structures, demolition/dismantling, traffic routes, emergency procedures, and welfare facilities on construction sites.
Sets minimum standards for the working environment including temperature, ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, room dimensions, workstations, sanitary facilities, and rest areas. Applies to construction site offices and welfare facilities.
HSE Workplace Health →Sets limits on working hours (48 hours/week average), rest breaks (20 minutes if shift is 6+ hours), daily rest (11 consecutive hours), and weekly rest (24 hours uninterrupted in each 7-day period). Workers can opt out of the 48-hour limit in writing.
GOV.UK Working Hours Guide →The Health and Safety Executive's main construction page with guidance, research, and enforcement information.
hse.gov.uk/construction →All Approved Documents and building regulation guidance from the government.
Approved Documents →Training, qualifications, grants and standards for the UK construction industry.
citb.co.uk →The Construction Skills Certification Scheme - industry standard for competence verification.
cscs.uk.com →The new regulator established under the Building Safety Act 2022 within HSE.
HSE Building Safety →The official home of all UK legislation - search and read any Act or Statutory Instrument.
legislation.gov.uk →FORGE Command helps construction professionals manage compliance, track regulations, and generate documentation -- so you never miss a requirement.
Explore FORGE Command