How Your Builder's Health & Safety Policy Affects You

When work is taking place in your home, good communication about safety matters as much as communication about the finished design. Before work begins, make sure you understand who is coordinating the build and how the work area will be managed.

Agree how your household will use the property

Discuss access routes, working areas and any rooms or services that will be unavailable. Explain any particular needs in your household so these can be considered when planning the work.

• Which areas must stay out of bounds, including for children, pets and visitors?
• How will deliveries, materials and waste be managed?
• What should you do before entering the work area?
• Who should you contact if you spot a problem or your circumstances change?

Understand who is responsible

For domestic projects that are not carried out as part of a business, client duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations normally pass to the contractor on a single-contractor project, or to the principal contractor where more than one contractor is involved. A principal designer can take on the client duties through a written agreement.

Read the Health and Safety Executive's guidance for domestic clients. The arrangements depend on the project, so establish roles before work starts. This article is an introduction and not a substitute for project-specific advice.

Ask practical questions early

Ask how risks associated with the planned work will be assessed, how specialist work will be coordinated and how changes will be communicated. Request relevant information about competence and insurance for the work being proposed, rather than relying on a general marketing claim.

Make safety part of the first conversation

If you are planning an extension, renovation or conversion, tell us about the property, who will be using it during the work and any concerns you want to discuss. You can raise these in your message without completing an extra questionnaire.

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