The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

PART 1 U.K. Introduction

Citation and commencement U.K.

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 6th April 2015 immediately after the Mines Regulations 2014 M1 .

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 2014/3248.

Interpretation U.K.

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 1974 Act” means the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974;

“the 2007 Regulations” means the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 M2 ;

“the Management Regulations” means the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 M3 ;

“business” means a trade, business or other undertaking (whether for profit or not);

“client” means any person for whom a project is carried out;

“construction phase” means the period of time beginning when construction work in a project starts and ending when construction work in that project is completed;

“construction phase plan” means a plan drawn up under regulations 12 or 15;

“construction site” includes any place where construction work is being carried out or to which the workers have access, but does not include a workplace within the site which is set aside for purposes other than construction work;

“construction work” means the carrying out of any building, civil engineering or engineering construction work and includes—

(a)

the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration or other maintenance (including cleaning which involves the use of water or an abrasive at high pressure, or the use of corrosive or toxic substances), de-commissioning, demolition or dismantling of a structure;

(b)

the preparation for an intended structure, including site clearance, exploration, investigation (but not site survey) and excavation (but not pre-construction archaeological investigations), and the clearance or preparation of the site or structure for use or occupation at its conclusion;

(c)

the assembly on site of prefabricated elements to form a structure or the disassembly on site of the prefabricated elements which, immediately before such disassembly, formed a structure;

(d)

the removal of a structure, or of any product or waste resulting from demolition or dismantling of a structure, or from disassembly of prefabricated elements which immediately before such disassembly formed such a structure;

(e)

the installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair or removal of mechanical, electrical, gas, compressed air, hydraulic, telecommunications, computer or similar services which are normally fixed within or to a structure,

but does not include the exploration for, or extraction of, mineral resources, or preparatory activities carried out at a place where such exploration or extraction is carried out;

“contractor” means any person (including a non-domestic client) who, in the course or furtherance of a business, carries out, manages or controls construction work;

“design” includes drawings, design details, specifications and bills of quantities (including specification of articles or substances) relating to a structure, and calculations prepared for the purpose of a design;

“designer” means any person (including a client, contractor or other person referred to in these Regulations) who in the course or furtherance of a business—

(a)

prepares or modifies a design; or

(b)

arranges for, or instructs, any person under their control to do so,

relating to a structure, or to a product or mechanical or electrical system intended for a particular structure, and a person is deemed to prepare a design where a design is prepared by a person under their control;

“domestic client” means a client for whom a project is being carried out which is not in the course or furtherance of a business of that client;

“excavation” includes any earthwork, trench, well, shaft, tunnel or underground working;

“the general principles of prevention” means the general principles of prevention specified in Schedule 1 to the Management Regulations;

“health and safety file” means a file prepared under regulation 12(5);

“inspector for the Executive” means an inspector within the meaning given in section 53(1) of the 1974 Act M4 ;

“loading bay” means any facility for loading or unloading;

“place of work” means any place which is used by any person at work for the purposes of construction work or for the purposes of any activity arising out of or in connection with construction work;

“pre-construction information” means information in the client's possession or which is reasonably obtainable by or on behalf of the client, which is relevant to the construction work and is of an appropriate level of detail and proportionate to the risks involved, including—

(a)

information about—

(i)

the project;

(ii)

planning and management of the project;

(iii)

health and safety hazards, including design and construction hazards and how they will be addressed; and

(b)

information in any existing health and safety file;

“pre-construction phase” means any period of time during which design or preparatory work is carried out for a project and may continue during the construction phase;

“principal contractor” means the contractor appointed under regulation 5(1)(b) to perform the specified duties in regulations 12 to 14;

“principal designer” means the designer appointed under regulation 5(1)(a) to perform the specified duties in regulations 11 and 12;

“project” means a project which includes or is intended to include construction work and includes all planning, design, management or other work involved in a project until the end of the construction phase;

“site rules” means rules which are drawn up for a particular construction site and are necessary for health or safety purposes;

“structure” means—

(a)

any building, timber, masonry, metal or reinforced concrete structure, railway line or siding, tramway line, dock, harbour, inland navigation, tunnel, shaft, bridge, viaduct, waterworks, reservoir, pipe or pipeline, cable, aqueduct, sewer, sewage works, gasholder, road, airfield, sea defence works, river works, drainage works, earthworks, lagoon, dam, wall, caisson, mast, tower, pylon, underground tank, earth retaining structure or structure designed to preserve or alter any natural feature and fixed plant;

(b)

any structure similar to anything specified in paragraph (a);

(c)

any formwork, falsework, scaffold or other structure designed or used to provide support or means of access during construction work,

and any reference to a structure includes part of a structure;

“traffic route” means a route for pedestrian traffic or for vehicles and includes any doorway, gateway, loading bay or ramp;

“vehicle” includes any mobile work equipment;

“work equipment” means any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not);

“working day” means any day on which construction work takes place;

“workplace” means a workplace within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 M5 other than a construction site.

(2) Any reference in these Regulations to a plan, rule, document, report or copy includes a copy or electronic version which is—

(a) capable of being retrieved or reproduced when required; and

(b) secure from loss or unauthorised interference.

Marginal Citations

M2 S.I. 2007/320, as amended by S.I. 2012/632, 2013/1471, 2013/1666 and 2014/469.

M3 S.I. 1999/3242, as amended by S.I. 2003/2457, 2007/320, 2010/93 and 2013/1667. S.I. 2005/1541 amends the instrument in relation to England and Wales and S.S.I. 2006/457 in relation to Scotland.

M4 There are amendments to section 53(1) of the 1974 Act but none is relevant.

M5 S.I. 1992/3004; the definition of “workplace” in regulation 2(1) was amended by S.I. 2002/2174.

Application in and outside Great Britain U.K.

3.  These Regulations apply—

(a) in Great Britain; and

(b) to premises and activities outside Great Britain to which sections 1 to 59 and 80 to 82 of the 1974 Act apply by virtue of articles 9 and 11(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2013 M6 .

Marginal Citations

M6 S.I. 2013/240.

PART 2 U.K. Client duties

Client duties in relation to managing projects U.K.

4.—(1) A client must make suitable arrangements for managing a project, including the allocation of sufficient time and other resources.

(2) Arrangements are suitable if they ensure that—

(a) the construction work can be carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risks to the health or safety of any person affected by the project; and

(b) the facilities required by Schedule 2 are provided in respect of any person carrying out construction work.

(3) A client must ensure that these arrangements are maintained and reviewed throughout the project.

(4) A client must provide pre-construction information as soon as is practicable to every designer and contractor appointed, or being considered for appointment, to the project.

(5) A client must ensure that—

(a) before the construction phase begins, a construction phase plan is drawn up by the contractor if there is only one contractor, or by the principal contractor; and

(b) the principal designer prepares a health and safety file for the project, which—

(i) complies with the requirements of regulation 12(5);

(ii) is revised from time to time as appropriate to incorporate any relevant new information; and

(iii) is kept available for inspection by any person who may need it to comply with any relevant legal requirements.

(6) A client must take reasonable steps to ensure that—

(a) the principal designer complies with any other principal designer duties in regulations 11 and 12; and

(b) the principal contractor complies with any other principal contractor duties in regulations 12 to 14.

(7) If a client disposes of the client's interest in the structure, the client complies with the duty in paragraph (5)(b)(iii) by providing the health and safety file to the person who acquires the client's interest in the structure and ensuring that that person is aware of the nature and purpose of the file.

(8) Where there is more than one client in relation to a project—

(a) one or more of the clients may agree in writing to be treated for the purposes of these Regulations as the only client or clients; and

(b) except for the duties specified in sub-paragraph (c) only the client or clients agreed in paragraph (a) are subject to the duties owed by a client under these Regulations;

(c) the duties in the following provisions are owed by all clients—

(i) regulation 8(4); and

(ii) paragraph (4) and regulation 8(6) to the extent that those duties relate to information in the possession of the client.

Appointment of the principal designer and the principal contractor U.K.

5.—(1) Where there is more than one contractor, or if it is reasonably foreseeable that more than one contractor will be working on a project at any time, the client must appoint in writing—

(a) a designer with control over the pre-construction phase as principal designer; and

(b) a contractor as principal contractor.

(2) The appointments must be made as soon as is practicable, and, in any event, before the construction phase begins.

(3) If the client fails to appoint a principal designer, the client must fulfil the duties of the principal designer in regulation 11 and 12.

(4) If the client fails to appoint a principal contractor, the client must fulfil the duties of the principal contractor in regulations 12 to 14.

Notification U.K.

6.—(1) A project is notifiable if the construction work on a construction site is scheduled to—

(a) last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project; or

(b) exceed 500 person days.

(2) Where a project is notifiable, the client must give notice in writing to the Executive as soon as is practicable before the construction phase begins.

(3) The notice must—

(a) contain the particulars specified in Schedule 1;

(b) be clearly displayed in the construction site office in a comprehensible form where it can be read by any worker engaged in the construction work; and

(c) if necessary, be periodically updated.

(4) Where a project includes construction work of a description for which the Office of Rail Regulation is the enforcing authority by virtue of regulation 3 of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority for Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 2006 M7 , the client must give notice to the Office of Rail Regulation instead of the Executive.

(5) Where a project includes construction work on premises which are or are on—

(a) a GB nuclear site (within the meaning given in section 68 of the Energy Act 2013 M8 );

(b) an authorised defence site (within the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998 M9 ); or

(c) a new nuclear build site (within the meaning given in regulation 2A of those Regulations),

the client must give notice to the Office for Nuclear Regulation instead of the Executive.

Marginal Citations

M7 S.I. 2006/557. Regulation 3 was amended by S.I. 2007/1573 and 2014/469.

M8 2013 c.32.

M9 S.I. 1998/494. The definition of “authorised defence site” was inserted into regulation 2(1), and new regulation 2A was inserted into the Regulations, by S.I. 2014/469.

Application to domestic clients U.K.

7.—(1) Where the client is a domestic client the duties in regulations 4(1) to (7) and 6 must be carried out by—

(a) the contractor for a project where there is only one contractor;

(b) the principal contractor for a project where there is more than one contractor; or

(c) the principal designer where there is a written agreement that the principal designer will fulfil those duties.

(2) If a domestic client fails to make the appointments required by regulation 5—

(a) the designer in control of the pre-construction phase of the project is the principal designer;

(b) the contractor in control of the construction phase of the project is the principal contractor.

(3) Regulation 5(3) and (4) does not apply to a domestic client.

PART 3 U.K. Health and safety duties and roles

General duties U.K.

8.—(1) A designer (including a principal designer) or contractor (including a principal contractor) appointed to work on a project must have the skills, knowledge and experience, and, if they are an organisation, the organisational capability, necessary to fulfil the role that they are appointed to undertake, in a manner that secures the health and safety of any person affected by the project.

(2) A designer or contractor must not accept an appointment to a project unless they fulfil the conditions in paragraph (1).

(3) A person who is responsible for appointing a designer or contractor to carry out work on a project must take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that the designer or contractor fulfils the conditions in paragraph (1).

(4) A person with a duty or function under these Regulations must cooperate with any other person working on or in relation to a project, at the same or an adjoining construction site, to the extent necessary to enable any person with a duty or function to fulfil that duty or function.

(5) A person working on a project under the control of another must report to that person anything they are aware of in relation to the project which is likely to endanger their own health or safety or that of others.

(6) Any person who is required by these Regulations to provide information or instruction must ensure the information or instruction is comprehensible and provided as soon as is practicable.

(7) To the extent that they are applicable to a domestic client, the duties in paragraphs (3), (4) and (6) must be carried out by the person specified in regulation 7(1).

Duties of designers U.K.

9.—(1) A designer must not commence work in relation to a project unless satisfied that the client is aware of the duties owed by the client under these Regulations.

(2) When preparing or modifying a design the designer must take into account the general principles of prevention and any pre-construction information to eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, foreseeable risks to the health or safety of any person—

(a) carrying out or liable to be affected by construction work;

(b) maintaining or cleaning a structure; or

(c) using a structure designed as a workplace.

(3) If it is not possible to eliminate these risks, the designer must, so far as is reasonably practicable—

(a) take steps to reduce or, if that is not possible, control the risks through the subsequent design process;

(b) provide information about those risks to the principal designer; and

(c) ensure appropriate information is included in the health and safety file.

(4) A designer must take all reasonable steps to provide, with the design, sufficient information about the design, construction or maintenance of the structure, to adequately assist the client, other designers and contractors to comply with their duties under these Regulations.

Designs prepared or modified outside Great Britain U.K.

10.—(1) Where a design is prepared or modified outside Great Britain for use in construction work to which these Regulations apply—

(a) the person who commissions it, if established within Great Britain; or

(b) if that person is not so established, the client for the project,

must ensure that regulation 9 is complied with.

(2) This regulation does not apply to a domestic client.

Duties of a principal designer in relation to health and safety at the pre-construction phase U.K.

11.—(1) The principal designer must plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the pre-construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the project is carried out without risks to health or safety.

(2) In fulfilling the duties in paragraph (1), and in particular when—

(a) design, technical and organisational aspects are being decided in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession; and

(b) estimating the period of time required to complete such work or work stages,

the principal designer must take into account the general principles of prevention and, where relevant, the content of any construction phase plan and any health and safety file.

(3) In fulfilling the duties in paragraph (1), the principal designer must identify and eliminate or control, so far as is reasonably practicable, foreseeable risks to the health or safety of any person—

(a) carrying out or liable to be affected by construction work;

(b) maintaining or cleaning a structure; or

(c) using a structure designed as a workplace.

(4) In fulfilling the duties in paragraph (1), the principal designer must ensure all designers comply with their duties in regulation 9.

(5) In fulfilling the duty to coordinate health and safety matters in paragraph (1), the principal designer must ensure that all persons working in relation to the pre-construction phase cooperate with the client, the principal designer and each other.

(6) The principal designer must—

(a) assist the client in the provision of the pre-construction information required by regulation 4(4); and

(b) so far as it is within the principal designer's control, provide pre-construction information, promptly and in a convenient form, to every designer and contractor appointed, or being considered for appointment, to the project.

(7) The principal designer must liaise with the principal contractor for the duration of the principal designer's appointment and share with the principal contractor information relevant to the planning, management and monitoring of the construction phase and the coordination of health and safety matters during the construction phase.

Construction phase plan and health and safety file U.K.

12.—(1) During the pre-construction phase, and before setting up a construction site, the principal contractor must draw up a construction phase plan, or make arrangements for a construction phase plan to be drawn up.

(2) The construction phase plan must set out the health and safety arrangements and site rules taking account, where necessary, of the industrial activities taking place on the construction site and, where applicable, must include specific measures concerning work which falls within one or more of the categories set out in Schedule 3.

(3) The principal designer must assist the principal contractor in preparing the construction phase plan by providing to the principal contractor all information the principal designer holds that is relevant to the construction phase plan including—

(a) pre-construction information obtained from the client;

(b) any information obtained from designers under regulation 9(3)(b).

(4) Throughout the project the principal contractor must ensure that the construction phase plan is appropriately reviewed, updated and revised from time to time so that it continues to be sufficient to ensure that construction work is carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risks to health or safety.

(5) During the pre-construction phase, the principal designer must prepare a health and safety file appropriate to the characteristics of the project which must contain information relating to the project which is likely to be needed during any subsequent project to ensure the health and safety of any person.

(6) The principal designer must ensure that the health and safety file is appropriately reviewed, updated and revised from time to time to take account of the work and any changes that have occurred.

(7) During the project, the principal contractor must provide the principal designer with any information in the principal contractor's possession relevant to the health and safety file, for inclusion in the health and safety file.

(8) If the principal designer's appointment concludes before the end of the project, the principal designer must pass the health and safety file to the principal contractor.

(9) Where the health and safety file is passed to the principal contractor under paragraph (8), the principal contractor must ensure that the health and safety file is appropriately reviewed, updated and revised from time to time to take account of the work and any changes that have occurred.

(10) At the end of the project, the principal designer, or where there is no principal designer the principal contractor, must pass the health and safety file to the client.

Duties of a principal contractor in relation to health and safety at the construction phase U.K.

13.—(1) The principal contractor must plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, construction work is carried out without risks to health or safety.

(2) In fulfilling the duties in paragraph (1), and in particular when—

(a) design, technical and organisational aspects are being decided in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession; and

(b) estimating the period of time required to complete the work or work stages,

the principal contractor must take into account the general principles of prevention.

(3) The principal contractor must—

(a) organise cooperation between contractors (including successive contractors on the same construction site);

(b) coordinate implementation by the contractors of applicable legal requirements for health and safety; and

(c) ensure that employers and, if necessary for the protection of workers, self-employed persons—

(i) apply the general principles of prevention in a consistent manner, and in particular when complying with the provisions of Part 4; and

(ii) where required, follow the construction phase plan.

(4) The principal contractor must ensure that—

(a) a suitable site induction is provided;

(b) the necessary steps are taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the construction site; and

(c) facilities that comply with the requirements of Schedule 2 are provided throughout the construction phase.

(5) The principal contractor must liaise with the principal designer for the duration of the principal designer's appointment and share with the principal designer information relevant to the planning, management and monitoring of the pre-construction phase and the coordination of health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase.

Principal contractor's duties to consult and engage with workers U.K.

14.  The principal contractor must—

(a) make and maintain arrangements which will enable the principal contractor and workers engaged in construction work to cooperate effectively in developing, promoting and checking the effectiveness of measures to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the workers;

(b) consult those workers or their representatives in good time on matters connected with the project which may affect their health, safety or welfare, in so far as they or their representatives have not been similarly consulted by their employer;

(c) ensure that those workers or their representatives can inspect and take copies of any information which the principal contractor has, or which these Regulations require to be provided to the principal contractor, which relate to the health, safety or welfare of workers at the site, except any information—

(i) the disclosure of which would be against the interests of national security;

(ii) which the principal contractor could not disclose without contravening a prohibition imposed by or under an enactment;

(iii) relating specifically to an individual, unless that individual has consented to its being disclosed;

(iv) the disclosure of which would, for reasons other than its effect on health, safety or welfare at work, cause substantial injury to the principal contractor's undertaking or, where the information was supplied to the principal contractor by another person, to the undertaking of that other person;

(v) obtained by the principal contractor for the purpose of bringing, prosecuting or defending any legal proceedings.

Duties of contractors U.K.

15.—(1) A contractor must not carry out construction work in relation to a project unless satisfied that the client is aware of the duties owed by the client under these Regulations.

(2) A contractor must plan, manage and monitor construction work carried out either by the contractor or by workers under the contractor's control, to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety.

(3) Where there is more than one contractor working on a project, a contractor must comply with—

(a) any directions given by the principal designer or the principal contractor; and

(b) the parts of the construction phase plan that are relevant to that contractor's work on the project.

(4) If there is only one contractor working on the project, the contractor must take account of the general principles of prevention when—

(a) design, technical and organisational aspects are being decided in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession; and

(b) estimating the period of time required to complete the work or work stages.

(5) If there is only one contractor working on the project, the contractor must draw up a construction phase plan, or make arrangements for a construction phase plan to be drawn up, as soon as is practicable prior to setting up a construction site.

(6) The construction phase plan must fulfil the requirements of regulation 12(2).

(7) A contractor must not employ or appoint a person to work on a construction site unless that person has, or is in the process of obtaining, the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience to carry out the tasks allocated to that person in a manner that secures the health and safety of any person working on the construction site.

(8) A contractor must provide each worker under their control with appropriate supervision, instructions and information so that construction work can be carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risks to health and safety.

(9) The information provided must include—

(a) a suitable site induction, where not already provided by the principal contractor;

(b) the procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to health and safety;

(c) information on risks to health and safety—

(i) identified by the risk assessment under regulation 3 of the Management Regulations; or

(ii) arising out of the conduct of another contractor's undertaking and of which the contractor in control of the worker ought reasonably to be aware; and

(d) any other information necessary to enable the worker to comply with the relevant statutory provisions.

(10) A contractor must not begin work on a construction site unless reasonable steps have been taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to that site.

(11) A contractor must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the requirements of Schedule 2 are complied with so far as they affect the contractor or any worker under that contractor's control.

PART 4 U.K. General requirements for all construction sites

Application of Part 4 U.K.

16.—(1) This Part applies only to a construction site.

(2) A contractor carrying out construction work must comply with the requirements of this Part so far as they affect the contractor or any worker under the control of the contractor or relate to matters within the contractor's control.

(3) A domestic client who controls the way in which any construction work is carried out by a person at work must comply with the requirements of this Part so far as they relate to matters within the client's control.

Safe places of construction work U.K.

17.—(1) There must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be suitable and sufficient safe access to and egress from—

(a) every construction site to every other place provided for the use of any person whilst at work; and

(b) every place construction work is being carried out to every other place to which workers have access within a construction site.

(2) A construction site must be, so far as is reasonably practicable, made and kept safe for, and without risks to, the health of a person at work there.

(3) Action must be taken to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no person uses access to or egress from or gains access to any construction site which does not comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) A construction site must, so far as is reasonably practicable, have sufficient working space and be arranged so that it is suitable for any person who is working or who is likely to work there, taking account of any necessary work equipment likely to be used there.

Good order and site security U.K.

18.—(1) Each part of a construction site must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be kept in good order and those parts in which construction work is being carried out must be kept in a reasonable state of cleanliness.

(2) Where necessary in the interests of health and safety, a construction site must, so far as is reasonably practicable, and in accordance with the level of risk posed, comply with either or both of the following—

(a) have its perimeter identified by suitable signs and be arranged so that its extent is readily identifiable; or

(b) be fenced off.

(3) No timber or other material with projecting nails (or similar sharp object) must—

(a) be used in any construction work; or

(b) be allowed to remain in any place,

if the nails (or similar sharp object) may be a source of danger to any person.

Stability of structures U.K.

19.—(1) All practicable steps must be taken, where necessary to prevent danger to any person, to ensure that any new or existing structure does not collapse if, due to the carrying out of construction work, it—

(a) may become unstable; or

(b) is in a temporary state of weakness or instability.

(2) Any buttress, temporary support or temporary structure must—

(a) be of such design and installed and maintained so as to withstand any foreseeable loads which may be imposed on it; and

(b) only be used for the purposes for which it was designed and installed and is maintained.

(3) A structure must not be so loaded as to render it unsafe to any person.

Demolition or dismantling U.K.

20.—(1) The demolition or dismantling of a structure must be planned and carried out in such a manner as to prevent danger or, where it is not practicable to prevent it, to reduce danger to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

(2) The arrangements for carrying out such demolition or dismantling must be recorded in writing before the demolition or dismantling work begins.

Explosives U.K.

21.—(1) So far as is reasonably practicable, explosives must be stored, transported and used safely and securely.

(2) An explosive charge may be used or fired only if suitable and sufficient steps have been taken to ensure that no person is exposed to risk of injury from the explosion or from projected or flying material caused by the explosion.

Excavations U.K.

22.—(1) All practicable steps must be taken to prevent danger to any person, including, where necessary, the provision of supports or battering, to ensure that—

(a) no excavation or part of an excavation collapses;

(b) no material forming the walls or roof of, or adjacent to, any excavation is dislodged or falls; and

(c) no person is buried or trapped in an excavation by material which is dislodged or falls.

(2) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent any person, work equipment, or any accumulation of material from falling into any excavation.

(3) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken, where necessary, to prevent any part of an excavation or ground adjacent to it from being overloaded by work equipment or material.

(4) Construction work must not be carried out in an excavation where any supports or battering have been provided in accordance with paragraph (1) unless—

(a) the excavation and any work equipment and materials which may affect its safety have been inspected by a competent person—

(i) at the start of the shift in which the work is to be carried out;

(ii) after any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the excavation; and

(iii) after any material unintentionally falls or is dislodged; and

(b) the person who carried out the inspection is satisfied that construction work can be safely carried out there.

(5) Where the person carrying out an inspection informs the person on whose behalf the inspection is carried out of any matter about which they are not satisfied (under regulation 24(1)), construction work must not be carried out in the excavation until the matter has been satisfactorily remedied.

Cofferdams and caissons U.K.

23.—(1) A cofferdam or caisson must be—

(a) of suitable design and construction;

(b) appropriately equipped so that workers can gain shelter or escape if water or materials enter it; and

(c) properly maintained.

(2) A cofferdam or caisson must not be used to carry out construction work unless—

(a) the cofferdam or caisson and any work equipment and materials which may affect its safety have been inspected by a competent person—

(i) at the start of the shift in which the work is to be carried out; and

(ii) after any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the cofferdam or caisson; and

(b) the person who carried out the inspection is satisfied that construction work can be safely carried out there.

(3) Where the person carrying out an inspection informs the person on whose behalf the inspection is carried out of any matter about which they are not satisfied (under regulation 24(1)), construction work must not be carried out in the cofferdam or caisson until the matter has been satisfactorily remedied.

Reports of inspections U.K.

24.—(1) Where a person who carries out an inspection under regulation 22 or 23 is not satisfied that construction work can be carried out safely at the place inspected, that person must—

(a) inform the person on whose behalf the inspection was carried out, before the end of the shift within which the inspection is completed, of the matters that could give rise to a risk to the safety of any person;

(b) prepare a report, which must include—

(i) the name and address of the person on whose behalf the inspection was carried out;

(ii) the location of the place of construction work inspected;

(iii) a description of the place of construction work or part of that place inspected (including any work equipment and materials);

(iv) the date and time of the inspection;

(v) details of any matter identified that could give rise to a risk to the safety of any person;

(vi) details of any action taken as a result of any matter identified in sub-paragraph (v);

(vii) details of any further action considered necessary; and

(viii) the name and position of the person making the report; and

(c) provide the report, or a copy of it, to the person on whose behalf the inspection was carried out, within 24 hours of completing the inspection to which the report relates.

(2) Where the person who carries out an inspection works under the control of another (whether as an employee or otherwise) the person in control must ensure the person who carries out the inspection complies with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(3) The person on whose behalf the inspection was carried out must—

(a) keep the report or a copy of it available for inspection by an inspector for the Executive—

(i) at the site where the inspection was carried out until the construction work is completed; and

(ii) after that for 3 months; and

(b) send to the inspector such extracts from or copies of the report as the inspector may from time to time require.

(4) This regulation does not require the preparation of more than one report where more than one inspection is carried out under regulation 22(4)(a)(i) or 23(2)(a)(i) within a 7 day period.

Energy distribution installations U.K.

25.—(1) Where necessary to prevent danger, energy distribution installations must be suitably located, periodically checked and clearly indicated.

(2) Where there is a risk to construction work from overhead electric power cables—

(a) they must be directed away from the area of risk; or

(b) the power must be isolated and, where necessary, earthed.

(3) If it is not reasonably practicable to comply with paragraph (2)(a) or (b), suitable warning notices must be provided together with one or more of the following—

(a) barriers suitable for excluding work equipment which is not needed;

(b) suspended protections where vehicles need to pass beneath the cables; or

(c) measures providing an equivalent level of safety.

(4) Construction work which is liable to create a risk to health or safety from an underground service, or from damage to or disturbance of it, must not be carried out unless suitable and sufficient steps (including any steps required by this regulation) have been taken to prevent the risk, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Prevention of drowning U.K.

26.—(1) Where, in the course of construction work, a person is at risk of falling into water or other liquid with a risk of drowning, suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to—

(a) prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the person falling;

(b) minimise the risk of drowning in the event of a fall; and

(c) ensure that suitable rescue equipment is provided, maintained and, when necessary, used so that a person may be promptly rescued in the event of a fall.

(2) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to ensure the safe transport of any person conveyed by water to or from a place of work.

(3) Any vessel used to convey any person by water to or from a place of work must not be overcrowded or overloaded.

Traffic routes U.K.

27.—(1) A construction site must be organised in such a way that, so far as is reasonably practicable, pedestrians and vehicles can move without risks to health or safety.

(2) Traffic routes must be suitable for the persons or vehicles using them, sufficient in number, in suitable positions and of sufficient size.

(3) A traffic route does not satisfy paragraph (2) unless suitable and sufficient steps are taken to ensure that—

(a) pedestrians or vehicles may use it without causing danger to the health or safety of persons near it;

(b) any door or gate for pedestrians which leads onto a traffic route is sufficiently separated from that traffic route to enable pedestrians to see any approaching vehicle or plant from a place of safety;

(c) there is sufficient separation between vehicles and pedestrians to ensure safety or, where this is not reasonably practicable—

(i) other means for the protection of pedestrians are provided; and

(ii) effective arrangements are used for warning any person liable to be crushed or trapped by any vehicle of its approach;

(d) any loading bay has at least one exit for the exclusive use of pedestrians; and

(e) where it is unsafe for pedestrians to use a gate intended primarily for vehicles, at least one door for pedestrians is provided in the immediate vicinity of the gate, is clearly marked and is kept free from obstruction.

(4) Each traffic route must be—

(a) indicated by suitable signs where necessary for reasons of health or safety;

(b) regularly checked; and

(c) properly maintained.

(5) No vehicle is to be driven on a traffic route unless, so far as is reasonably practicable, that traffic route is free from obstruction and permits sufficient clearance.

Vehicles U.K.

28.—(1) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent or control the unintended movement of any vehicle.

(2) Where a person may be endangered by the movement of a vehicle, suitable and sufficient steps to give warning to any person who is liable to be at risk from the movement of the vehicle must be taken by either or both—

(a) the driver or operator of the vehicle; or

(b) where another person is directing the driver or operator because, due to the nature of the vehicle or task, the driver or operator does not have full visibility, the person providing directions.

(3) A vehicle being used for the purposes of construction work must, when being driven, operated or towed, be—

(a) driven, operated or towed in such a manner as is safe in the circumstances; and

(b) loaded in such a way that it can be driven, operated or towed safely.

(4) A person must not ride, or be required or permitted to ride, on any vehicle being used for the purposes of construction work otherwise than in a safe place in that vehicle provided for that purpose.

(5) A person must not remain, or be required or permitted to remain, on any vehicle during the loading or unloading of any loose material unless a safe place of work is provided and maintained for that person.

(6) Suitable and sufficient measures must be taken to prevent a vehicle from falling into any excavation or pit, or into water, or overrunning the edge of any embankment or earthwork.

Prevention of risk from fire, flooding or asphyxiation U.K.

29.  Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of injury to a person during the carrying out of construction work arising from—

(a) fire or explosion;

(b) flooding; or

(c) any substance liable to cause asphyxiation.

Emergency procedures U.K.

30.—(1) Where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, suitable and sufficient arrangements for dealing with any foreseeable emergency must be made and, where necessary, implemented, and those arrangements must include procedures for any necessary evacuation of the site or any part of it.

(2) In making arrangements under paragraph (1), account must be taken of—

(a) the type of work for which the construction site is being used;

(b) the characteristics and size of the construction site and the number and location of places of work on that site;

(c) the work equipment being used;

(d) the number of persons likely to be present on the site at any one time; and

(e) the physical and chemical properties of any substances or materials on, or likely to be on, the site.

(3) Where arrangements are made under paragraph (1), suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to ensure that—

(a) each person to whom the arrangements extend is familiar with those arrangements; and

(b) the arrangements are tested by being put into effect at suitable intervals.

Emergency routes and exits U.K.

31.—(1) Where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, a sufficient number of suitable emergency routes and exits must be provided to enable any person to reach a place of safety quickly in the event of danger.

(2) The matters in regulation 30(2) must be taken into account when making provision under paragraph (1).

(3) An emergency route or exit must lead as directly as possible to an identified safe area.

(4) An emergency route or exit and any traffic route giving access to it must be kept clear and free from obstruction and, where necessary, provided with emergency lighting so that it may be used at any time.

(5) Each emergency route or exit must be indicated by suitable signs.

Fire detection and fire-fighting U.K.

32.—(1) Where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, suitable and sufficient fire-fighting equipment and fire detection and alarm systems must be provided and located in suitable places.

(2) The matters in regulation 30(2) must be taken into account when making provision under paragraph (1).

(3) Fire-fighting equipment or fire detection and alarm systems must be examined and tested at suitable intervals and properly maintained.

(4) Fire-fighting equipment which is not designed to come into use automatically must be easily accessible.

(5) Each person at work on a construction site must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be instructed in the correct use of fire-fighting equipment which it may be necessary for the person to use.

(6) Where a work activity may give rise to a particular risk of fire, a person must not carry out work unless suitably instructed.

(7) Fire-fighting equipment must be indicated by suitable signs.

Fresh air U.K.

33.—(1) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that each construction site, or approach to a construction site, has sufficient fresh or purified air to ensure that the site or approach is safe and without risks to health or safety.

(2) Any plant used for the purpose of complying with paragraph (1) must, where necessary for reasons of health or safety, include an effective device to give visible or audible warning of any failure of the plant.

Temperature and weather protection U.K.

34.—(1) Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that during working hours the temperature at a construction site that is indoors is reasonable having regard to the purpose for which that place is used.

(2) Where necessary to ensure the health or safety of persons at work on a construction site that is outdoors, the construction site must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be arranged to provide protection from adverse weather, having regard to—

(a) the purpose for which the site is used; and

(b) any protective clothing or work equipment provided for the use of any person at work there.

Lighting U.K.

35.—(1) Each construction site and approach and traffic route to that site must be provided with suitable and sufficient lighting, which must be, so far as is reasonably practicable, by natural light.

(2) The colour of any artificial lighting provided must not adversely affect or change the perception of any sign or signal provided for the purposes of health or safety.

(3) Suitable and sufficient secondary lighting must be provided in any place where there would be a risk to the health or safety of a person in the event of the failure of primary artificial lighting.

PART 5 U.K. General

Enforcement in respect of fire U.K.

36.  The enforcing authority for regulations 30 and 31 (so far as those regulations relate to fire) and regulation 32, in respect of a construction site which is contained within or forms part of premises occupied by persons other than those carrying out construction work, or any activity related to this work, is—

(a) in England and Wales, the enforcing authority within the meaning of article 25 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 M10 in respect of premises to which that Order applies; or

(b) in Scotland, the enforcing authority within the meaning of section 61 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 M11 in respect of premises to which Part 3 of that Act applies.

Marginal Citations

M10 S.I. 2005/1541. Article 25 was amended by paragraphs 87 and 88 of Part 5 of Schedule 12 to the Energy Act 2013 (c.32).

M11 2005 asp 5. Section 61 was amended by section 103(1)(a)(i) and (ii) and (b) and Part 2 of Schedule 8 to the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8);paragraph 86 of Part 5 of Schedule 12 to the Energy Act 2013; S.I. 2005/2060 and S.I. 2008/960. Section 78 which sets out the meaning of “relevant premises” to which Part 3 of the legislation applies was amended by paragraph 23 of Part 1 of Schedule 6 and Schedule 7 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 1);S.I. 2005/2060 and S.S.I. 2005/352, 2011/211, 2011/369 and 2012/332.

Transitional and saving provisions U.K.

37.  Schedule 4, which makes transitional and saving provisions, has effect.

Revocation and consequential amendments U.K.

38.—(1) The 2007 Regulations are revoked.

(2) The amendments in Schedule 5 have effect.

Review U.K.

39.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of regulations 1 to 36;

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report; and

(c) publish the report.

(2) In carrying out the review the Secretary of State must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how Council Directive 92/57/EEC M12 on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites (which is implemented by means of regulations 1 to 36), is implemented in other Member States.

(3) The report must in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory system established by those regulations;

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved; and

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

(4) The first report under this regulation must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the day on which these Regulations come into force.

(5) Reports under this regulation are afterwards to be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

Marginal Citations

M12 OJ No L 245, 26.8.1992, p6–22.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Freud

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department of Work and Pensions

22nd January 2015