Safety in the construction industry
In terms of the built environment, the term ‘safety’ generally refers to the condition of being protected, or safe, from hazards and other undesirable events. As construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, the positive control and management of hazards and risks to achieve a sufficiently-high level of safety is very important, and is often a legal requirement.
From a safety perspective, a hazard is a condition with the potential to cause physical impairment or health consequences in people or other types of life.
Safety audits are carried out to assess health and safety processes on construction sites, considering; legislative requirements, industry best practice, and the contractor’s own health and safety management systems.
Construction companies use a wide range of safety practices as part of their safety management programmes, with an increasing emphasis on creating a safety culture throughout the organisation.
The term ‘safety’ can also be used to refer to how safe or protected against harmful events a building or structure is when it is in use. This can be in relation to extreme weather, earthquakes, security, operational failures or hazards, and so on.
For a full list of articles related to safety, see Health and Safety.
See also: Building safety.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Automated external defibrillator AED.
- BREEAM Safety and security.
- Building safety.
- Competent person.
- Construction Client Buddy Scheme.
- Construction Health and Safety Group CHSG.
- Electrical safety.
- Electrical safety in the private rented sector.
- Electrical test equipment for use on low voltage electrical systems GS38.
- Fire.
- Health and safety.
- Health and safety plan.
- Injuries on construction sites.
- ISO 23234 and ISO 21542 security and accessibility standards
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Risk assessment.
- Safety audit.
- Safety briefing.
- Safety management.
- Security.
- Slip and trip hazards.
- Swarf.
- Warning pipe.
- What is a hazard?
- What is CLOCS?
- Working in confined conditions.
[edit] External references
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
England's Suburbs 1820-2020. Book review.
New, more proportionate and targeted approach for higher-risk building assessments.
Government brings British Steel into public ownership.
UKCW Birmingham returns with bold new theme and focus.
New guidance published on competence requirements for self-certification schemes.
Construction Management, 8 July
NEETs crisis drives interest in trades, but apprenticeships barriers remain.
Passive fire protection webinar
MEP services penetration seals.
Where its at podcast (and video) - The role of the Architectural Technologist as an Expert Witness.
More than 200 remarkable buildings added to SAVE’s Buildings at Risk register.
Government scraps pre-application consultation for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Historic England and infrastructure
New projects offer opportunities for the historic environment and local communities.
Construction Management, 2 July
Construction deaths halve in two years.