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Construction Site Safety, CDM & Compliance

From groundworks to handover — expert construction health and safety, CDM compliance, working at height assessments, asbestos management, method statements and accredited on-site training for contractors, principal contractors and clients across the UK.

51Construction worker fatalities (2023/24)
61KNon-fatal injuries in construction
30%Of all workplace fatalities
24/7Emergency DG support included
Construction

Making Construction Sites Safer

Construction remains the most dangerous industry in the UK, consistently accounting for around 30% of all workplace fatalities. Falls from height, being struck by moving vehicles or objects, structural collapse, contact with underground services, asbestos exposure and musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling are the leading causes of death and serious injury on construction sites — making expert safety management not just a legal requirement, but a moral imperative.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) place legal duties on clients, principal designers, principal contractors, contractors and designers. HSE construction inspectors target working at height, scaffolding, excavations, structural stability, welfare provision and asbestos management — with fees for intervention at £166 per hour and the power to issue immediate prohibition notices that shut down your site.

RADCaT provides comprehensive construction health and safety consultancy for contractors, principal contractors, developers and clients across the UK. From pre-construction CDM advice and construction phase plans through to on-site audits, method statements, toolbox talks and accredited training, we deliver practical safety solutions that keep your workers safe, your site compliant and your project on track.

Falls from height remain the number one killer in construction. HSE can issue prohibition notices that shut your site immediately. Proactive safety management saves lives, avoids prosecution and keeps your project on schedule.

Construction site safety and compliance
How We Help

Compliance Services for Construction

Click each service to see how RADCaT supports your construction projects and site operations.

CDM 2015 Compliance

Expert guidance on your duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Whether you're a client, principal designer, principal contractor or contractor, we help you understand and fulfil your legal obligations — from pre-construction information and construction phase plans to principal contractor appointments, designer risk elimination and the health and safety file. We ensure your CDM documentation is audit-ready and HSE-compliant.

Explore CDM Services

Working at Height

Falls from height account for more construction deaths than any other cause. We carry out working at height risk assessments, scaffold inspection regimes, edge protection reviews, roof work safety plans, ladder assessments and harness/fall arrest system checks. We develop site-specific safe systems of work and rescue plans that comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and meet HSE expectations for high-risk activities.

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Asbestos Management

Asbestos remains the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, killing around 5,000 people every year. Any construction work on pre-2000 buildings requires an asbestos survey before disturbance. We provide asbestos awareness training, refurbishment and demolition survey coordination, asbestos management plans and compliance advice to protect your workers from this hidden killer and ensure you meet the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

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Site Safety Audits & Inspections

Regular construction site safety audits and inspections to verify compliance with CDM, working at height requirements, excavation safety, temporary works, welfare provision, site tidiness and PPE compliance. We produce scored audit reports with photographic evidence, trend analysis across multiple visits and contractor performance benchmarking. Ideal for principal contractors managing multiple subcontractors.

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Method Statements & Risk Assessments

Construction-specific RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statements) for every high-risk activity — excavations, demolition, steel erection, concrete pours, crane operations, hot works, confined spaces, working near live services and lifting operations. We produce task-specific, site-specific documentation that satisfies principal contractor requirements and demonstrates competence to clients. Not generic templates — real RAMS for your real work.

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Contractor Management

Support for principal contractors managing subcontractor competence, site inductions, permit-to-work systems, hot work permits, excavation permits and lifting plans. We develop contractor vetting procedures, site rules documentation, induction programmes and toolbox talk schedules that ensure every person on your site understands the hazards, the controls and their individual responsibilities.

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HR & Employment Law for Construction

Construction businesses face unique HR challenges — CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) compliance, self-employed vs employed status determination, IR35 assessments, agency worker management, site-based disciplinary procedures, TUPE on contract changes and managing sickness absence in physically demanding roles. We provide contracts, handbooks, policies and ongoing HR advice tailored to the realities of construction.

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On-Site Training

Training for Your Construction Team

Accredited courses delivered on your construction site by trainers who understand building.

Working at Height

Scaffolding, ladders, roof work, edge protection and harness use. Work at Height Regs 2005.

Asbestos Awareness

Identify asbestos-containing materials, understand the risks and know the legal duties. Essential for refurbishment work.

IOSH Managing Safely

The gold standard for site managers and supervisors. Risk assessment, legal framework and incident investigation.

Abrasive Wheels

Safe mounting, use and storage of abrasive wheels and cutting discs. Legal requirements and practical competency.

Manual Handling

Safe lifting on construction sites. Block, timber, plasterboard, steel and equipment handling techniques.

First Aid at Work

HSE-approved FAW and EFAW for construction sites. Trauma, fractures, burns and crush injuries.

Fire Awareness

Construction site fire risks, hot work safety, temporary accommodation and emergency procedures.

Site Inductions

Bespoke site-specific induction programmes covering hazards, rules, emergency procedures and welfare.

Working at Height

Scaffolding, ladders, roof work, edge protection and harness use. Work at Height Regs 2005.

Asbestos Awareness

Identify asbestos-containing materials, understand the risks and know the legal duties. Essential for refurbishment work.

IOSH Managing Safely

The gold standard for site managers and supervisors. Risk assessment, legal framework and incident investigation.

Abrasive Wheels

Safe mounting, use and storage of abrasive wheels and cutting discs. Legal requirements and practical competency.

Manual Handling

Safe lifting on construction sites. Block, timber, plasterboard, steel and equipment handling techniques.

First Aid at Work

HSE-approved FAW and EFAW for construction sites. Trauma, fractures, burns and crush injuries.

Fire Awareness

Construction site fire risks, hot work safety, temporary accommodation and emergency procedures.

Site Inductions

Bespoke site-specific induction programmes covering hazards, rules, emergency procedures and welfare.

How RADCaT Supports You

A Typical Construction Compliance Journey

Here's how we help a typical construction client achieve and maintain site safety compliance.

1

Pre-Construction CDM Advice

We advise on CDM duties before work starts — client obligations, principal designer appointments, pre-construction information packs and notifiable project notifications to HSE.

2

Construction Phase Plan

Development of the construction phase plan covering site rules, risk management arrangements, emergency procedures, welfare provision, site induction requirements and high-risk activity controls.

3

RAMS & Method Statements

Task-specific risk assessments and method statements for every high-risk activity on site — excavations, working at height, steel erection, lifting operations, hot works and confined space entry.

4

On-Site Training & Toolbox Talks

Site inductions for all personnel, weekly toolbox talks, accredited courses including working at height, asbestos awareness, IOSH, abrasive wheels, manual handling and first aid — delivered on your site.

5

Regular Site Audits

Scheduled site safety inspections with scored reports, photographic evidence, contractor performance tracking and trend analysis. Ensures continuous improvement throughout the project lifecycle.

6

Health & Safety File

Compilation of the CDM health and safety file for handover to the client — as-built drawings, residual hazard information, maintenance requirements and ongoing safety considerations for the completed structure.

Common Questions

Construction Compliance FAQ

What are my CDM duties as a client?

Under CDM 2015, clients must make suitable arrangements for managing a project, including ensuring adequate welfare facilities, appointing a principal designer and principal contractor for projects with more than one contractor, providing pre-construction information, and ensuring a construction phase plan is in place before work starts. For notifiable projects (lasting longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers, or exceeding 500 person-days), you must also notify HSE. RADCaT guides you through every obligation.

How often should construction sites be audited?

Best practice for active construction sites is weekly safety inspections by a competent person, with more formal monthly audits covering all aspects of CDM compliance. High-risk activities such as working at height, excavations and lifting operations should be inspected before each use or shift. RADCaT provides scheduled audit visits at a frequency that matches your project's risk profile and duration — weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Do you provide on-site construction training?

Yes. We deliver all construction training on-site at your project location anywhere in the UK. This includes site-specific inductions, toolbox talks, working at height, asbestos awareness, abrasive wheels, IOSH Managing Safely, manual handling, first aid and fire awareness. On-site delivery means your team learns in their actual work environment with real site-specific examples. We work around your programme to minimise disruption.

What is a construction phase plan?

The construction phase plan is a CDM 2015 requirement that sets out the health and safety arrangements and site rules for the construction phase. It must be prepared by the principal contractor (or sole contractor) before the construction phase begins. It covers project description, management structure, site rules, specific risk arrangements (working at height, excavations, asbestos etc.), emergency procedures, welfare provision and worker consultation arrangements. RADCaT develops bespoke construction phase plans for your project.

Do I need asbestos awareness training for my workers?

Under Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, every employer whose employees may be exposed to asbestos must provide adequate training. This includes anyone involved in construction, refurbishment, demolition or maintenance work on buildings constructed before 2000. Asbestos awareness training covers identification of asbestos-containing materials, the risks of exposure, legal duties and emergency procedures. RADCaT delivers asbestos awareness on-site for construction teams.

Can you help with contractor vetting and management?

Yes. We help principal contractors develop robust contractor vetting procedures, competency assessment criteria, site-specific induction programmes, permit-to-work systems (hot work, confined space, excavation, lifting) and subcontractor performance monitoring frameworks. We also assist with pre-qualification questionnaires, method statement reviews and ensuring subcontractor RAMS meet your project standards.

How much does construction safety consultancy cost?

Costs depend on the project size, duration, complexity and the scope of services required. We offer project-based pricing (a fixed fee for the duration of your project) or retained packages for contractors working across multiple sites. All pricing is transparent with no hidden extras. Contact us for a free initial site visit and we'll provide a tailored proposal based on your project's specific requirements.

Ready to Make Your Workplace Safer?

Get in touch for a free, no-obligation site visit. We'll visit your site, review your safety arrangements and recommend practical improvements.