The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the third edition of Fire safety in construction, which includes an added focus on eliminating or reducing fire risks at the design stage. This briefing looks at the issues.

Every year, many construction site workers are killed or injured because of their work, and many others suffer serious ill health. The hazards are not, however, restricted to people working on sites. Children and other members of the public are also killed or injured because construction activities have not been adequately controlled. The construction industry’s performance has steadily improved, but the rates of death, serious injury and ill health are still among the highest of all industries.

These deaths, injuries and ill health cause pain and suffering. They also cost money – accidental loss wastes a measurable percentage of the tender price, even on a site that has no serious (reportable) accidents. Property adjacent to construction sites can also be damaged and occupants put at risk by potential injury from smoke inhalation, radiant heat or burns from site fire(s) that get out of control.

The third edition of the HSE’s Fire safety in construction explains how everyone involved in construction projects can comply with their legal duties relating to fire risks. It is aimed at all those who procure, design, develop and manage construction sites, including clients and designers and is relevant to all construction projects.

The revision highlights specific guidance that covers the elimination and/or reduction of fire risks at the pre-construction stage, which is required by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

The HSE reports that there are hundreds of fires on construction sites every year and the purpose of the third edition is to encourage the elimination of these risks as early as possible (and where practicable) to prevent fires starting and putting workers and members of the public at risk.

This publication is part of HSE’s series of health and safety guidance for construction. The guidance aims to support those with legal duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), and under fire safety legislation, to embed good fire risk management from design through to project completion. It refers to other relevant guidance and standards so that you can build up a clear and comprehensive package.

Although the construction industry’s performance has improved over the past decade, the rates of death, serious injury and ill health for construction site workers are still too high. Workers and members of the public may be at risk from fire during construction works, when large fires can spread rapidly (including off site) because suitable controls are absent or are mis-managed.

You can download the new guidance here.