Briefing: Regulations to improve construction health and safety

Abstract

This briefing argues that the time is appropriate to reflect on a new way to improve the health and safety record of the UK construction industry. While research into discovering and addressing underlying causes of construction industry accidents and ill health continues to be commissioned, this article presents a set of regulations drawn up to address what the author believes is the best prospect for long-term improvement across the whole industry. The proposed regulations address the need to educate construction professionals in occupational health and safety matters during accredited first degree courses at university. The author describes what initiatives have taken place in the past and what certain professional institutions are doing at present.