CITB SMSTS key terms

The main UK law that sets general duties on employers, the self-employed, employees and others to protect people from harm at work. It supports more detailed regulations such as CDM 2015.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They set out roles and duties for clients, designers and contractors so that health and safety is managed throughout a construction project.

The person or organisation having construction work done for them, including as part of a business. Under CDM they must make suitable arrangements and provide relevant information to others.

The designer appointed by the client to plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase. They coordinate design work and help ensure foreseeable risks are controlled.

The contractor appointed by the client to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the construction phase. They must ensure a construction phase plan is prepared and site induction is provided.

A business or individual that carries out construction work, including sub-contractors. They must plan and manage their own work, cooperate with other duty holders and follow site rules.

Anyone who prepares or changes a design for construction work, including architects, engineers and temporary works designers. They must eliminate or reduce foreseeable risks in their design.

Health and safety information about the project, such as surveys, asbestos reports and site constraints, provided to designers and contractors before work begins.

The document that sets out how health and safety will be managed during the construction phase, including site rules, arrangements and emergency procedures.

A record of information about the finished structure needed for future maintenance, alteration or demolition, such as drawings and details of remaining hazards.

A notification to the Health and Safety Executive for projects that meet certain thresholds, such as lasting more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers at once.

The initial briefing given to everyone before they start work on a site, covering site rules, hazards, emergency arrangements and welfare.

A short, focused safety briefing for the workforce, often at the start of a shift, about a particular hazard, task or recent incident.

Suitable toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas and changing facilities that must be provided on site from the start of work.

The legal duty to consult workers or their representatives on health and safety matters, including risks, controls and changes that affect them.

A planned walk-round of the site to check that controls are in place and working, identify new hazards and record actions.

Arrangements for responding to incidents such as fire, collapse or medical emergency, including alarms, escape routes, assembly points and rescue.

The provision of trained first aiders, first aid equipment and facilities appropriate to the site's risks and workforce.

Keeping the site clean, tidy and organised, including clearing waste and keeping walkways clear, to prevent slips, trips and fire risks.

A careful examination of what could cause harm, how likely it is and how severe it could be, and what controls are needed to reduce risk.

Anything with the potential to cause harm, such as electricity, an excavation, noise, a moving vehicle or a hazardous substance.

The combination of how likely a hazard is to cause harm and how severe that harm could be, taking account of existing controls.

The order of preference for controlling risk: eliminate, reduce, use engineering controls, use administrative controls, then provide personal protective equipment as a last resort.

A document describing how a specific task will be done safely, including the sequence of work, controls, equipment and responsible people.

The combination of physical measures, procedures and training that ensures a task is carried out safely, often recorded in a method statement.

A formal written system for high-risk tasks that authorises specific work under stated conditions and confirms isolations or precautions are in place.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. They require employers to assess and control exposure to harmful substances such as dusts, fumes, chemicals and biological agents.

Information from a supplier about a hazardous substance, covering its hazards, safe handling, storage, first aid and disposal.

Regular health checks for workers exposed to health risks such as noise, dust or skin irritants, to detect early signs of work-related ill health.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. They require certain work-related deaths, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the enforcing authority.

An incident that did not cause harm but could have done, such as a falling object landing close to someone. Reporting them helps prevent future accidents.

A specified near-miss event with high potential to cause serious harm, such as a scaffold collapse or crane overturn, which must be reported under RIDDOR.

Work in a place where a person could fall and be injured, including work at ground level near an opening. It must be avoided, prevented or mitigated.

Mobile elevating work platform: a machine such as a scissor lift or boom lift used to provide a working platform at height.

Any man-made cut, cavity or hole in the ground. Excavations must be supported or battered back and checked for underground services before work.

An enclosed or partly enclosed space with limited access where serious injury can occur from a hazardous atmosphere, flooding or entrapment.

A documented plan for a lifting operation setting out the load, lifting equipment, accessories, personnel, sequence and controls.

A naturally occurring mineral fibre used in older buildings. Inhaling fibres can cause fatal diseases, so it must be identified and managed before refurbishment or demolition.

A temporary structure that provides access and a working platform at height. It must be erected, altered and dismantled by competent people and inspected regularly.

Work involving flames, sparks or heat, such as welding, grinding or cutting, which needs a permit and fire precautions.