UK Construction Safety Glossary

Definitions of key UK construction health and safety terms including RAMS, CDM 2015, COSHH, CPP, PPE, risk assessments, method statements, and more. This glossary is designed for construction professionals, site managers, and health and safety officers working under UK regulations.

Asbestos: A group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that were widely used in UK construction until their ban in 1999. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials releases fibres that, when inhaled, can cause serious diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require a duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises and mandate surveys before refurbishment or demolition.
CDM 2015 (Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015): The primary set of regulations governing health and safety on construction projects in Great Britain. CDM 2015 places duties on clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers, and contractors to plan, manage, and coordinate work so that risks are controlled throughout the project lifecycle. Compliance is a legal requirement for virtually all construction work.
Client (CDM): Under CDM 2015, the client is any person or organisation for whom a construction project is carried out. The client has a duty to make suitable arrangements for managing the project, including ensuring adequate time and resources are allocated and that relevant information is provided to designers and contractors. On domestic projects the client's duties normally transfer to the contractor or principal contractor.
Competent Person: An individual who has sufficient training, experience, knowledge, and other qualities to carry out a specific task safely. Competence requirements vary depending on the complexity of the work, but the duty holder must always be able to demonstrate that the person appointed is capable of fulfilling the role without risk to themselves or others.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health): A set of regulations requiring employers to assess and control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. A COSHH assessment identifies the substances used, evaluates the risks they pose, and sets out the control measures needed to protect workers. Common construction substances covered include cement dust, solvents, silica, and lead.
CPP (Construction Phase Plan): A document required under CDM 2015 that sets out the health and safety arrangements, site rules, and specific measures needed to manage risk during the construction phase. The principal contractor must prepare the CPP before work begins on site and keep it updated throughout the project. It acts as a practical guide for everyone involved in delivering the work safely.
Duty Holder: Any person or organisation that has a legal responsibility under health and safety legislation. Under CDM 2015 the duty holders are the client, principal designer, principal contractor, designers, and contractors. Each duty holder has specific obligations that must be fulfilled to ensure the safety of workers and others affected by the construction work.
F10 (F10 Notification): The official form used to notify the Health and Safety Executive of a notifiable construction project under CDM 2015. The F10 must include details of the client, principal designer, principal contractor, project address, planned start date, and estimated duration. It must be submitted before the construction phase begins and displayed prominently on site.
Fire Safety on Construction Sites: The measures required to prevent fire and protect workers on construction sites, as outlined in the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation. Key elements include hot works permits, fire points, escape routes, temporary fire detection, combustible material storage, and site-specific fire risk assessments.
HAVS (Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome): A condition caused by regular and prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration from power tools and equipment such as breakers, grinders, and compactors. HAVS can cause permanent damage to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and joints in the hands and arms. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set exposure action and limit values that employers must comply with.
Hazard: Anything that has the potential to cause harm, including physical agents, chemical substances, biological organisms, and psychosocial factors. In construction, common hazards include working at height, moving machinery, electrical installations, and manual handling. Identifying hazards is the first step in the risk assessment process.
Health and Safety File: A document compiled during a construction project that contains information needed to ensure health and safety during any subsequent work on the structure, such as maintenance, refurbishment, or demolition. The principal designer is responsible for preparing and updating the file, which is handed to the client on completion. It must include as-built drawings, details of materials used, and information about residual risks.
HSE (Health and Safety Executive): The UK government agency responsible for the regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety, and welfare legislation. The HSE inspects construction sites, investigates accidents, publishes guidance (such as Approved Codes of Practice and industry-specific guidance notes), and has the power to issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, and prosecute offenders.
LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation): An engineering control system designed to capture airborne contaminants (dust, fume, vapour) at or near the source of generation before they enter the worker's breathing zone. LEV is a key control measure under COSHH and is commonly used on construction sites for tasks such as cutting concrete, grinding metal, and sanding wood. LEV systems must be examined and tested at least every 14 months.
LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998): Regulations that require every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely. LOLER applies to all work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, including cranes, hoists, forklift trucks, and lifting accessories such as slings and shackles. Equipment must be thoroughly examined at specified intervals.
Method Statement: A written document that describes, step by step, how a work activity will be carried out safely. A method statement typically covers the sequence of operations, equipment to be used, personnel involved, and the control measures that will be applied to manage identified risks. It is often paired with a risk assessment to form part of a RAMS package.
Near Miss: An unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so. Reporting and investigating near misses is a key part of proactive safety management because it helps organisations identify weaknesses in their controls before a serious incident occurs. A strong near-miss reporting culture is widely regarded as a leading indicator of good safety performance.
Notifiable Project: Under CDM 2015, a construction project is notifiable to the HSE if it will last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point, or if it exceeds 500 person-days of construction work. The client must notify the HSE using an F10 form before the construction phase begins.
Permit to Work: A formal, documented system used to control high-risk work activities such as hot works, confined space entry, electrical isolation, and work at height. A permit to work records what work is to be done, the hazards involved, the precautions required, and confirms that the precautions are in place before work starts. It must be authorised by a competent person.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Equipment worn or held by a worker to protect against one or more risks to health and safety. Common construction PPE includes hard hats, high-visibility clothing, safety boots, gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection. PPE should always be treated as the last line of defence, used only after other control measures have been considered and applied.
Principal Contractor: The contractor appointed by the client under CDM 2015 to plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase when more than one contractor is involved. The principal contractor must ensure that a construction phase plan is in place, that site rules are established, and that all workers receive appropriate induction and training. They are the primary point of contact for health and safety on site.
Principal Designer: The designer appointed by the client under CDM 2015 to plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase when more than one contractor is involved. The principal designer must identify, eliminate, and control foreseeable risks that may arise during construction and throughout the life of the building. They are also responsible for preparing the health and safety file.
PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998): Regulations that require work equipment to be suitable for its intended use, maintained in a safe condition, inspected regularly, and used only by trained and competent persons. PUWER applies to all work equipment from hand tools to complex machinery. Employers must ensure guards and protective devices are in place and that equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement): A combined document that brings together a risk assessment and a method statement for a specific work activity. The risk assessment identifies potential hazards, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, and sets out control measures. The method statement then describes the step-by-step safe procedure for carrying out the work. RAMS are a fundamental requirement on UK construction sites.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013): Regulations that require employers, the self-employed, and people in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and specified dangerous occurrences to the HSE. Reportable injuries include fatalities, specified injuries (such as fractures and amputations), and over-seven-day incapacitation injuries.
Risk: The likelihood that a hazard will actually cause harm, combined with the severity of the consequences if it does. Risk assessment involves evaluating each hazard to determine how likely it is to result in injury or ill health and how serious the outcome could be. The level of risk guides the choice and priority of control measures needed to protect workers.
Risk Matrix: A tool used to evaluate and prioritise risks by plotting the likelihood of a hazard occurring against the severity of its potential consequences. The matrix typically produces a risk rating (such as low, medium, or high) that helps duty holders decide which risks need the most urgent attention. It is a standard feature of construction risk assessments in the UK.
Safe System of Work: A formal procedure that results from a systematic examination of a task to identify all the hazards and define safe methods of working. A safe system of work ensures that hazards are eliminated or that the remaining risks are minimised. It is often documented through a combination of risk assessments, method statements, and permits to work.
Site Induction: A mandatory briefing given to every worker before they begin work on a construction site. The induction covers site-specific hazards, emergency procedures, welfare arrangements, site rules, and the location of key facilities. The principal contractor is responsible for ensuring that all workers, including subcontractors and visitors, receive an appropriate induction.
Temporary Works: Any engineered structure used to support or protect a permanent works structure or the surrounding environment during construction. Examples include formwork, falsework, shoring, propping, and temporary access platforms. Temporary works must be designed by a competent engineer and managed through a formal temporary works procedure including design, checking, installation, and removal.
Toolbox Talk: A short, focused safety briefing delivered to workers on site, usually lasting between five and fifteen minutes. Toolbox talks cover a single topic relevant to the current work activities, such as manual handling, working at height, or the use of specific equipment. They are an effective way to reinforce safe working practices and keep health and safety front of mind.
Welfare Facilities: The amenities that must be provided on a construction site to protect the health and wellbeing of workers. Under CDM 2015, welfare facilities include toilets, washing stations, drinking water, changing areas, rest facilities, and somewhere to heat food. The principal contractor must ensure these facilities are available from the start of the construction phase and maintained throughout.
Work at Height Regulations 2005: Regulations that apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They require duty holders to avoid work at height where possible, prevent falls using appropriate equipment, and mitigate the consequences of any fall. The regulations establish a hierarchy of controls and apply to all industries, but have particular significance for construction.
Working at Height: Any work carried out in a place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes work on ladders, scaffolds, roofs, and mobile elevated work platforms, as well as work near openings, edges, and fragile surfaces. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to follow a hierarchy of controls: avoid, prevent, and mitigate falls.

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