What is occupational health and safety in construction?
Occupational health and safety (OHS) encompasses all rules, measures and provisions that safeguard the safety, health and well-being of workers on the job. In the construction industry, OHS is especially important because of the high risk of accidents.
Legal framework
OHS in construction is governed by national legislation such as:
- Health & Safety at Work Act (UK) / OSHA regulations (US)
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM, UK)
- Risk assessments for every workplace
- Mandatory protective measures and sanctions for violations
Regulatory bodies like the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, UK) or OSHA (US) enforce compliance.
Application on the construction site
Key OHS topics on a building site include:
- Falls from height — working at height requires scaffolding, guardrails or fall-arrest harnesses
- Manual handling — cranes, vacuum lifters and other aids reduce physical strain
- Noise and dust — hearing protection and dust masks during demolition and cutting work
- Hazardous substances — asbestos, solvents and epoxy resins
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) — hard hat, safety boots, gloves and safety glasses
Common OHS measures
- Health and safety plan — required for larger construction projects
- Toolbox talk — a short safety briefing before work commences
- Safety certification — proof that a company or worker operates safely (e.g. CSCS card in the UK)
- Risk assessment — mandatory for every workplace and activity
Related terms
- Scaffolding
- Formwork
- Construction site
- Safety
- Asbestos
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.