About this CPD Resource
Legal requirements and practical guidance on working at height regulations, scaffold inspection, fall prevention and arrest systems for construction professionals.
Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of fatal injuries in the UK construction industry. Understanding the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and how to apply them in practice is therefore one of the most important areas of CPD for any construction professional with site responsibilities.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Identify when work at height requires a risk assessment
- Select appropriate fall prevention measures
- Understand scaffold inspection requirements
Who Is This Suitable For?
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Why This CPD Matters
Health and safety CPD is not optional for UK construction professionals — it is a professional and legal obligation. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place explicit duties on designers, principal designers, contractors and clients, and the Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced new competency requirements that make ongoing health and safety training more important than ever. Beyond compliance, the business case for health and safety competence is clear: the Health and Safety Executive reports that construction accounts for a disproportionate share of workplace fatalities each year, and the human and financial cost of preventable incidents far exceeds any investment in training.
This CPD from Designing Buildings contributes to the ongoing professional development that construction professionals need to maintain their competency in health and safety. Whether you are working towards or maintaining membership of IOSH, CIOB, RIBA, ICE or another professional body, structured health and safety CPD is a core requirement. IOSH alone requires 30 hours of CPD per year, and health and safety must feature as a significant component of that learning.
Key Topics and Industry Context
The construction industry's approach to health and safety has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by legislative change, high-profile incidents and a growing understanding of occupational health alongside physical safety. Modern health and safety CPD goes beyond basic hazard awareness to cover topics including: the psychosocial aspects of work and mental health in construction; occupational diseases including vibration white finger, noise-induced hearing loss and respiratory conditions caused by dust exposure; the management of health and safety across complex supply chains; and the behavioural and cultural factors that determine whether safety management systems are genuinely effective in practice.
This resource from Designing Buildings addresses key aspects of this landscape, providing structured learning that can be evidenced for CPD purposes with professional bodies. Construction professionals who engage regularly with health and safety CPD are better placed to fulfil their legal duties, manage risk effectively and contribute to a culture of safety on their projects.
How This Fits Your CPD Requirements
IOSH requires all members to complete 30 hours of CPD per year, with health and safety knowledge explicitly central to the IOSH competency framework. CIOB requires 25 hours of CPD per year and includes health and safety as a core competency area. RIBA-chartered members must complete 35 hours of CPD annually including mandatory core curriculum topics, and health and safety is one of RIBA's required core curriculum themes. ICE does not set a fixed annual hour requirement but mandates engagement with Safety and Risk Management as one of three mandatory CPD themes. Engaging with structured health and safety CPD from recognised providers such as this one is the most efficient way to meet these requirements while genuinely developing your professional competency.