9th June, 2020

101 Construction Site Safety Topics

Health and safety is extra important on construction sites, because they are dangerous places to work. And the first rule of health and safety is to talk about health and safety. Here are 101 health and safety topics you can talk about on your construction sites.

101 Construction Site Safety Topics header image

Construction is one of the most high-hazard industries you can work in. Demolishing structures, ripping out hazardous materials, working at height, working underground. It's also one of the most varied professions. Every project is different. Every site is different. And every trade faces different challenges.

Regular health and safety toolbox talks can help raise awareness of the various risks your team will be facing on site. And in construction, there are a lot of topics you can cover.

Want to get a head start on health and safety talks? Download 50 free toolbox talks for construction!

By covering the different site safety subjects, one at a time, little and often, you can soon raise health and safety awareness amongst your team. And when people know about the risks, and how to control them, they can work safer on site. Here are 101 construction site safety topics you can discuss.

Topics listed in order A-Z

  1. Abrasive Wheels
  2. Asbestos Awareness
  3. Asbestos Surveys
  4. Behaviour
  5. CDM Client
  6. CDM Contractor
  7. CDM Designer
  8. CDM Domestic Client
  9. CDM Principal Contractor
  10. CDM Principal Designer
  11. CDM Regulations
  12. Cement
  13. Confined Spaces
  14. Construction Site Rules
  15. COSHH
  16. COSHH Assessment
  17. COSHH Symbols
  18. Demolition
  19. Dermatitis
  20. Dust
  21. Electrical Equipment
  22. Electrical Safety
  23. Excavations
  24. Exposed Edges
  25. Extension Cables
  26. Eye Protection
  27. Falls
  28. Fire Action
  29. Fire Extinguishers
  30. Fire Prevention
  31. Fire Safety in Construction
  32. First Aid
  33. Flammable Liquids
  34. Gas Cylinders
  35. Good Housekeeping
  36. Hand Protection
  37. Hand Tools
  38. Hard Hats
  39. HAVS
  40. Hot Work
  41. Induction
  42. Ladders
  43. Lead
  44. Legionella
  45. Leptospirosis
  46. Lifting Equipment
  47. Lifting Operations
  48. Lifting Technique
  49. Loading
  50. Lone Working
  51. Manual Handling
  52. Method Statement
  53. MEWPs
  54. Mobile Phones
  55. Musculoskeletal Disorders
  56. Near Misses
  57. Noise At Work
  58. Outdoor Working
  59. Overhead Services
  60. Paint
  61. PAT Portable Appliance Testing
  62. Permits To Work
  63. Personal Hygiene
  64. PPE Use
  65. Public Protection in Construction
  66. Refuelling
  67. RIDDOR
  68. Risk Assessment
  69. Roof Work
  70. RPE Use
  71. Safety Awareness
  72. Safety Benefits
  73. Safety Nets
  74. Safety Signs
  75. Scaffolding
  76. Sharps Injury
  77. Silica Dust
  78. Site Plant
  79. Site Security
  80. Skip Safety
  81. Slips and Trips
  82. Slips and Trips Prevention
  83. Solvents
  84. Step Ladders
  85. Sun Exposure
  86. Tower Scaffolds
  87. Transport Management
  88. Trestles
  89. Underground Services
  90. Vehicle Safety
  91. Vibration
  92. Violations
  93. Waste Management
  94. Water Buoyancy Equipment
  95. Welfare Facilities
  96. Winter Working
  97. Wood Dust
  98. Work Equipment
  99. Work Near Water
  100. Working at Height
  101. Zero Harm

Phew, that's a lot of construction site safety topics, and I'm sure you can think of more to add to your list! If you're feeling a little overwhelmed, we've picked 5 construction topics, that will apply to nearly all construction work, with links to further information to help get you started.

1. Asbestos

Constructions biggest killer. If you're refurbishing, demolishing or maintaining existing structures, you need to know how to avoid asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibres are deadly if disturbed. Here's a free asbestos awareness toolbox talk to help you cover this topic.

Asbestos fibres tiny

2. Working at Height

Asbestos is the biggest health hazard, but working at height is the biggest safety hazard. Falls from height usually kill more people on construction sites each year than any other safety hazard. And you don't have to be working on the roof of a building to be working at height. If you work up a ladder, on a ledge, or above a pit, your working at height. So this topic applies to more construction projects than you might think.

Make sure your team know about the risks, and how to work safely at height. You can get a working at height toolbox talk to start the conversation, or watch the video below.

3. Construction Site Rules

Every construction site needs some basic safety rules. By putting in place a strong safety foundation, you can build a positive health and safety culture on site (see what we did there?). You can get the rules from the 10 simple construction site rules blog post or download the construction site rules toolbox talk.

4. Risk Assessment

Risk assessments are required by law, and are especially important in riskier activities, like the ones carried out on construction sites. It's important to understand the purpose of risk assessments, and why they need to be followed. And even how to complete one.

5. CDM

While the type of health and safety hazards on each site might change, one thing that doesn't is the law that applies to construction work. CDM (or the Construction Design & Management Regulations) to give its full name, applies to all construction projects, big and small. Know your duties and the responsibilities of each member of the project team. For the client, principal contractor, principal designer, contractors and designers.


Go ahead, start a safety talk, we've prepared 30 free toolbox talks for you to download today. Or join us on the Talks Plan for online access to all toolbox talks for you and your team.

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This article was written by Emma at HASpod. Emma has over 10 years experience in health and safety and BSc (Hons) Construction Management. She is NEBOSH qualified and Tech IOSH.

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