How to create a culture of safety on your construction site

Construction is one of the most complex and high-risk industries to work in. Sites are constantly changing, with heavy machinery, working at height, moving vehicles, and multiple contractors often operating side by side. This fast-paced and unpredictable environment means the margin for error is small—and the consequences can be life-threatening.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), construction has the highest fatal injury rate of any industry in Great Britain. In 2023-2024, 51 workers lost their lives on construction sites. The most common causes were falls from height, followed by workers being struck by moving vehicles or falling or flying objects—highlighting how critical it is to embed robust health and safety practices.

And yet, despite these risks being well known, many construction businesses still struggle to create a consistent safety culture. High staff turnover, reliance on subcontractors, and pressure to deliver projects quickly often make it difficult to maintain high standards day to day. Creating a safety culture isn’t just about having policies in place—it’s about making safety a visible, shared priority at every level of the organisation.

That’s why we’re sharing practical steps every construction company can take to build a culture where health and safety is part of everyday decision-making. From leadership and audits to training, we’ll outline how you can embed safety into your site’s operations—creating a culture that protects workers and supports long-term success.

Before you can improve, you need a clear picture of your current health and safety performance. This means assessing your existing systems, behaviours, and risks.

A Pre-Audit Gap Analysis is a great place to start. It helps identify both strengths and areas of concern in your health and safety management system, providing a useful baseline for improvement. For many construction firms, it also serves as an early health check before going through a more in-depth audit or aiming for formal certification. Understanding your starting point helps you plan your next steps more effectively.

Once you’ve identified the gaps, strong leadership is essential to drive meaningful change. Health and safety need to be championed from the top—by directors, project managers, and site supervisors. When leaders model the right behaviours, make safety visible in their decisions, and prioritise worker wellbeing, it creates trust and sets the tone for the entire workforce.

To support this, be sure to establish your HSE champions. Many companies choose to go through a Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Best Practice Audit which assesses how safety is being managed and communicated across all levels of the business. It not only highlights what’s working but offers a structured roadmap to achieve best practice—valuable insight for any leadership team committed to raising standards.

Creating a culture of safety means making it everyone’s responsibility. Workers are the eyes and ears of your site, and their experience is vital in identifying real-world risks. That’s why engagement must go beyond posters and toolbox talks. It’s about creating channels for workers to speak up, report concerns, and contribute ideas for improving safety.

Building a strong reporting culture, encouraging open dialogue, and acting on feedback are all key. Regular site walkarounds, safety checks, and visible feedback loops can make a big difference. When people feel listened to and involved, safety becomes personal—and cultural change becomes more sustainable.

Even the best policies and systems can fail without a competent workforce. That’s why training should be continuous—not just a one-off at induction. Construction sites are dynamic, and as risks evolve, so too should the training.

For those responsible for managing safety on site, more in-depth qualifications like the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) offer a comprehensive understanding of risk management, site responsibilities, and legal compliance. It’s an ideal course for site managers, supervisors, and anyone taking ownership of health and safety in a construction environment.

Similarly, understanding the legal framework that underpins construction safety is key. The Introduction to CDM 2015 Regulations course is a useful starting point for anyone needing to understand their duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations—whether you’re a client, designer, or contractor.

Beyond technical knowledge, it’s important to recognise the link between safety and mental wellbeing. The Five Star Wellbeing Supplementary Audit is a valuable tool for assessing how well your organisation supports employee wellbeing. In a sector where fatigue, stress, and long hours are common, looking after workers’ mental health is critical—not only for productivity, but for overall safety performance.

Creating a safety culture isn’t a ‘one and done’ task. It requires ongoing review, reflection, and action. That means learning from near misses, reviewing incidents, tracking safety KPIs, and adapting processes over time.

For many construction firms, external input can help shape this journey. Our consultancy services support organisations in identifying risks, refining safety strategies, and developing long-term improvement plans. Whether you need help navigating legal requirements or want to evolve your culture, an outside perspective can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

To go even further, you can explore the full range of audits and assessments available—from wellbeing and environmental performance to compliance and safety management. These tools give construction businesses the opportunity to benchmark their progress, demonstrate best practice, and stay ahead of evolving industry standards.

Health and safety in construction is not simple—but building a strong safety culture doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By taking a structured approach, starting with a clear understanding of where you stand and following practical steps that involve your entire team, meaningful change is possible.

Leadership, worker engagement, training, and continuous improvement aren’t just best practice—they’re the foundations of safer, more productive sites. And with the right support, whether through targeted audits, expert consultancy, or tailored training, any construction business can take confident steps towards embedding safety into its daily operations.