Health and safety isn’t just paperwork. As a tradesperson in the UK, you have legal duties that apply from the moment you step onto a job site — whether you’re a sole trader working for yourself or a contractor with a team. Get it wrong and you’re looking at unlimited fines, prosecution, or worse.
This guide explains exactly what you’re responsible for, what documents you need, and what happens if you don’t comply.
Key Takeaways
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary law. It applies to every tradesperson who employs others or works independently.
- Risk assessments are legally required if you employ five or more people — but best practice says every tradesperson should carry one out regardless.
- PPE is your last line of defence, not your first. Eliminate or control hazards before relying on protective equipment.
- RIDDOR requires you to report serious workplace injuries, deaths, and dangerous incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Fines for non-compliance have no upper limit for serious breaches. The average fine in construction prosecutions is now over £150,000.
Your Legal Framework
Three pieces of legislation cover most of what you need to know:
| Law | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) | The foundation. Requires employers and the self-employed to ensure safety “so far as is reasonably practicable” |
| Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 | Requires formal risk assessments, competent health and safety arrangements, and emergency procedures |
| Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) | Applies to construction projects. Sets out duties for clients, designers, principal contractors, and contractors |
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national regulator responsible for enforcing these laws. They can visit job sites unannounced, issue improvement notices, and prosecute companies and individuals.
Risk Assessments
A risk assessment is a systematic look at what could harm people on your jobs — workers, customers, or the public.
Who must carry one out:
- Anyone who employs five or more workers must have a written risk assessment
- Sole traders and small businesses should still do one — it protects you legally and reduces accidents
What a good risk assessment covers:
- Identify the hazards (e.g., working at height, electrical work, chemicals)
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and decide on controls
- Record your findings (required if you have 5+ employees)
- Review and update when circumstances change
According to the HSE, around 143 workers were killed in workplace accidents in Great Britain in 2023/24, with the construction sector consistently among the most dangerous. Falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal injuries.
Practical example for a roofer: Before starting, your risk assessment should cover ladder stability, roof edge protection, condition of the roof surface, weather conditions, and emergency procedures if someone falls.
Method Statements
A method statement (sometimes called a Safe System of Work) explains step-by-step how you’ll do a task safely. They’re often required by clients, principal contractors, and large employers before you set foot on site.
Together, a risk assessment and method statement are known as a RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement).
What a method statement should include:
- Description of the work
- Sequence of tasks
- Plant, equipment, and materials involved
- Control measures for each risk identified
- Emergency procedures
- Who’s responsible for what
Some clients — particularly commercial, local authority, and social housing clients — won’t let you start work without a RAMS. Having a template ready to adapt for each job saves time and makes you look professional.
PPE Requirements
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (updated 2022) require employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge when risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
PPE is considered the last resort — you should first try to eliminate the hazard, then use engineering controls, then work practices, then PPE.
| Trade | Typical Required PPE |
|---|---|
| Electrician | Insulated gloves, safety footwear, eye protection, arc flash protection for live work |
| Roofer | Hard hat, safety harness and lanyard, non-slip footwear, high-vis |
| Plumber | Eye protection, chemical-resistant gloves (for flux/solvents), knee pads |
| Builder / Labourer | Hard hat, steel toe-capped boots, hi-vis vest, gloves, eye protection |
| Painter / Decorator | RPE (respiratory protective equipment) when spraying, eye protection, chemical-resistant gloves |
You must also ensure PPE is:
- Suitable for the risk and the person wearing it
- Maintained and stored correctly
- Worn by workers (you’re responsible for ensuring compliance)
COSHH: Hazardous Substances
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require you to identify, assess, and control exposure to hazardous substances.
What counts as a hazardous substance:
- Solvents, paints, adhesives, and thinners
- Silica dust (from cutting brick, concrete, or stone)
- Lead paint in older properties
- Asbestos (which has its own dedicated regulations)
- Biological agents (sewage work, mould remediation)
According to the HSE, around 40,000 workers develop occupational lung disease from dust and fumes exposure in the construction sector each year.
Key COSHH requirements:
- Identify which substances you use or encounter
- Obtain safety data sheets (from manufacturers — they’re legally required to provide them)
- Assess the risk of exposure
- Implement controls (substitution, ventilation, PPE)
- Monitor and review
For silica dust — generated when cutting, grinding, or drilling masonry — the legal Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) is 0.1 mg/m³ over an 8-hour time-weighted average. Water suppression or local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is often needed.
Asbestos Awareness
Asbestos is the most important hazard to understand for anyone working on buildings constructed before 2000. An estimated 1.5 million commercial buildings in the UK still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, before working on any building built before 2000 you must:
- Check whether an asbestos survey has been done
- Ask the client or building owner for the asbestos register
- Assume materials contain asbestos if no survey exists
You must NOT remove asbestos unless you hold the appropriate HSE licence. Non-licensed work (such as drilling into artex ceilings) is allowed but must follow strict precautions. For licensed work, only licensed contractors can carry it out.
Asbestos-related diseases kill around 5,000 people per year in the UK — more than any other work-related cause. The HSE takes breaches of asbestos regulations extremely seriously.
RIDDOR: Reporting Incidents
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) requires you to report certain incidents to the HSE.
What you must report:
| Category | Examples | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | Any work-related death | Immediately by phone, then written report within 10 days |
| Specified injuries | Fractures (not fingers/toes), amputations, crush injuries, loss of sight | Immediately by phone, then within 10 days |
| Over-7-day injuries | Injuries that prevent work for more than 7 consecutive days | Within 15 days |
| Occupational diseases | Carpal tunnel, tendonitis, occupational dermatitis, HAVS | When diagnosed by a doctor |
| Dangerous occurrences | Near misses: scaffold collapse, explosion, accidental release of dangerous substances | Immediately |
Reports go to the HSE via their online reporting system at riddor.hse.gov.uk or by phone on 0345 300 9923.
Failure to report is a criminal offence. The HSE can also use RIDDOR data to identify your site for inspection.
Toolbox Talks
A toolbox talk is a short, informal safety briefing — typically 5-10 minutes — covering a specific hazard or topic before work begins. They’re not legally required for sole traders but are good practice and often required on commercial sites.
Common topics include: working at height, manual handling, electricity, PPE, and fire safety. The HSE provides free toolbox talk templates on their website.
If you employ workers, holding regular toolbox talks demonstrates you’re taking your safety duties seriously, which counts in your favour if anything does go wrong.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 removed the cap on fines that Magistrates’ Courts can impose. Serious breaches now carry:
- Unlimited fines in the Crown Court
- Imprisonment of up to 2 years for certain offences
- Prohibition notices that stop work immediately
- Improvement notices requiring specific actions within a set timeframe
The HSE publishes all prosecutions on their website. Average fines in construction-related prosecutions have risen sharply — according to the Sentencing Council guidelines, a company with turnover under £2 million convicted of a serious safety breach could face a fine of £100,000 to £450,000.
Individual directors and sole traders face the same sentencing guidelines. “I didn’t know” is not a defence — the law requires reasonable steps to be taken, which includes finding out what those steps are.
Your Health and Safety Checklist
Before starting any job, work through this:
Site assessment:
- Hazards identified and risk assessment completed
- Method statement prepared (RAMS) where required by client
- Asbestos survey checked for buildings pre-2000
- Emergency procedures known (first aid, evacuation)
Equipment:
- All PPE available and in good condition
- Tools and equipment inspected and safe to use
- Ladders, scaffolding, or access equipment checked
Substances:
- COSHH assessment done for any hazardous materials
- Safety data sheets available
Compliance:
- CSCS card or equivalent qualification carried
- Employer’s liability insurance in place (if you employ anyone)
- Public liability insurance active
Ongoing:
- Workers briefed on hazards and controls
- Incidents logged and reportable ones reported to HSE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sole traders need to do a risk assessment? Sole traders are not legally required to write down a risk assessment unless they employ five or more workers. But completing one — even informally — protects you legally and helps you think through what could go wrong before it does. Many clients now require a written risk assessment before allowing you to start work.
What’s the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement? A risk assessment identifies hazards and evaluates risks. A method statement explains how you’ll do the work safely, step by step. Together they form a RAMS document. Risk assessments are about what could go wrong; method statements are about what you’ll do to prevent it.
Do I need public liability insurance to be health and safety compliant? Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement under health and safety law, but it’s strongly advisable and often required by clients. Employer’s liability insurance IS a legal requirement if you employ anyone — the minimum cover is £5 million.
What should I do if I find suspected asbestos on a job? Stop work immediately. Don’t disturb the material. Inform the client and advise them to arrange an asbestos survey by a licensed surveyor. Don’t return to work in that area until the survey has been carried out and any necessary removal completed by a licensed contractor.
How do I report a workplace accident to the HSE? Use the online portal at riddor.hse.gov.uk. For serious injuries or deaths, call the HSE incident contact centre on 0345 300 9923 first. Keep a copy of all reports you submit — you may need them later.
Health and safety obligations don’t disappear when jobs get busy. The tradespeople who take this seriously protect their workers, their business, and their livelihood. Those who don’t tend to find out the hard way.
If you’re building a trade business and want to look credible to commercial clients, a professional website helps too — it’s often the first thing they check before taking you on. Digital Tradies builds websites for tradespeople from £49/month, no upfront cost, live in 3 days.
