General Health and Safety at Work

Overview

General health and safety knowledge forms the foundation of the ECS HS&E test. This topic covers the legal framework that governs workplace safety in the United Kingdom, the risk assessment process, and the roles and responsibilities of different duty holders.

Construction sites are among the most hazardous workplaces in the UK. The legislation and procedures covered here exist to protect everyone involved in construction work.

At a Glance: This topic covers the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, risk assessments, method statements, CDM 2015, safety signs, and welfare facilities. Focus on employer and employee duties, the five steps of risk assessment, and CDM duty holder roles.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

This is the primary piece of health and safety legislation in the UK. It places duties on employers, employees, self-employed persons, and others to ensure health, safety, and welfare at work.

Key Fact: The HASAWA 1974 is an enabling Act — it provides the framework under which more specific regulations (like CDM, COSHH, and PUWER) are made. It is the foundation of all UK health and safety law.

Employer Duties

Employers have extensive legal duties under the Act:

• Provide a safe place of work with safe access and egress
• Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment
• Provide information, instruction, training, and supervision appropriate to the work
• Prepare a written health and safety policy if employing 5 or more people
• Consult with employees on health and safety matters
• Carry out risk assessments and implement appropriate controls

Employee Duties

Employees also have legal responsibilities:

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others affected by your work
• Co-operate with your employer on health and safety matters
• Do not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety
• Report hazards and defects to your employer

Key Fact: Employees can face prosecution under the Act for failing to meet their duties. Health and safety is not solely the employer’s responsibility.

Risk Assessments

A risk assessment is the systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and determining appropriate control measures. It is a legal requirement for all work activities.

Understanding the Terminology

Term	Definition
Hazard	Something with the potential to cause harm
Risk	The likelihood of that harm occurring combined with its severity
Control measure	An action taken to reduce risk to an acceptable level

The Five Steps of Risk Assessment

1. Identify the hazards — What could cause harm?
2. Decide who might be harmed and how — Workers, visitors, members of the public?
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions — Use the hierarchy of controls
4. Record the findings and implement them — Document the assessment and put controls in place
5. Review and update — Regularly review and revise as circumstances change

Key Fact: Risk assessments are living documents. They must be reviewed whenever circumstances change, after an incident, or when they may no longer be valid.

Hierarchy of Controls

When deciding on precautions, follow the hierarchy from most effective to least effective:

1. Elimination — Remove the hazard entirely
2. Substitution — Replace with something less hazardous
3. Engineering controls — Physical barriers, guards, ventilation
4. Administrative controls — Training, procedures, signage, supervision
5. PPE — Personal protective equipment as a last resort

Method Statements

A method statement (or safe system of work) describes the step-by-step procedure for carrying out a task safely. Together with a risk assessment, it forms the RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement).

What a Method Statement Should Include

• Scope of work and location
• Sequence of operations
• Hazards identified and control measures
• PPE requirements
• Emergency procedures
• Competency requirements for those carrying out the work
• Signatures and review dates

CDM Regulations 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 define roles and responsibilities for construction projects. They apply to all construction work in the UK.

CDM Duty Holders

Role	Key Responsibility
Client	Makes suitable arrangements for managing the project; appoints principal designer and principal contractor when more than one contractor is involved
Principal Designer	Plans, manages, and monitors the pre-construction phase; focuses on eliminating or reducing health and safety risks through design
Principal Contractor	Plans, manages, and monitors the construction phase; ensures co-operation between contractors
Designers	Must eliminate hazards and reduce risks through their design choices
Contractors	Plan, manage, and monitor their own work; comply with the construction phase plan

Key Fact: On projects with only one contractor, the client must ensure the contractor fulfils the duties of the principal contractor. There is no requirement to formally appoint a principal designer or principal contractor in this case.

Safety Signs

Safety signs follow a standardised colour and shape system across the UK and Europe. You must be able to identify each type instantly.

Shape and Colour	Meaning	Examples
Red circle with cross line	Prohibition — must not do	No smoking, no entry, no mobile phones
Blue circle	Mandatory — must do	Wear hard hat, wear hi-vis, wear eye protection
Yellow triangle	Warning — hazard ahead	Danger of death, caution wet floor, toxic hazard
Green rectangle	Safe condition	Emergency exit, first aid, assembly point

Key Fact: Red means prohibition (do not do something) and blue means mandatory (you must do something). These two are commonly confused in exam questions.

Welfare Facilities

Construction sites must provide adequate welfare facilities for all workers. These requirements are set out in CDM 2015 and are non-negotiable.

Minimum Requirements

• Toilets — sufficient for the number of workers on site
• Washing facilities — with hot and cold running water, soap, and towels
• Drinking water — clearly marked and separate from non-drinking water
• Changing rooms — where workers need to change into or out of work clothing
• Rest facilities — with seating and a means of heating food
• Shelter from adverse weather conditions

Safety Considerations

• Read the RAMS before starting any work — understand the hazards and controls before you begin
• Report hazards immediately — near misses, unsafe conditions, and defective equipment
• Attend safety briefings and toolbox talks whenever they are held
• Co-operate fully with all health and safety arrangements on site
• Never take shortcuts that compromise safety, regardless of time pressure or commercial demands
• Know your rights — you can refuse to carry out work you genuinely believe is unsafe

Exam Tips

Exam Tip: Know the key duties of employers (provide safe workplace, training, PPE, policy) and employees (take care, co-operate, do not misuse safety equipment, report hazards) under the 1974 Act.

Exam Tip: The five steps of risk assessment are tested frequently. Learn them in order and understand what each step involves.

Exam Tip: Be clear on the difference between a hazard (potential to cause harm) and a risk (likelihood and severity of harm). This distinction appears in many questions.

Exam Tip: Know the CDM 2015 duty holder roles, especially the differences between client, principal designer, and principal contractor.

Exam Tip: Safety sign colours and shapes are heavily tested: red prohibition, blue mandatory, yellow warning, green safe condition.

Exam Tip: Remember that a written health and safety policy is required when employing 5 or more people. This threshold comes up regularly.