This awareness-level qualification introduces learners to:

• The main causes of injury and ill health in the construction industry
• The legal framework, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and CDM 2015
• The health and safety duties of employers, employees and the self-employed
• The principal site hazards: working at height, slips, trips and falls, moving vehicles, manual handling and hazardous substances
• The principles of risk assessment and safe systems of work
• The purpose of method statements and permit-to-work systems
• The correct selection, use and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• The importance of good housekeeping and adequate site welfare facilities
• Fire prevention and emergency arrangements on site
• Accident, incident and near-miss reporting, including RIDDOR

• Construction risk is high and largely preventable. HSE data consistently shows construction among the sectors with the highest rate of fatal and serious injury and the majority of these incidents involve well-understood, well-documented hazards.
• New starters are disproportionately at risk. Workers new to a site or new to the industry are statistically more likely to be involved in an incident, often because they have not yet built the awareness that experienced workers take for granted.
• It is a foundation for statutory compliance. CDM 2015 places duties on everyone involved in a construction project, from clients and designers through to individual workers, to plan, manage and monitor health and safety throughout the life of a project.
• A safety culture has to be taught, not assumed. Sites with a genuinely strong safety culture see fewer incidents and that culture starts with every worker understanding not just the rules, but why they exist.

• Foundation-level (Level 1) qualification suitable for those new to the construction sector
• Minimum of 4 hours' instructional contact time, designed for flexible short-course delivery
• Delivered entirely online through the Britsafe learning management system (LMS) no physical classroom attendance is required
• Course materials are provided digitally (soft copy) via the LMS
• Assessed via an online examination through the Britsafe Examination Management System (EMS), with a minimum pass mark of 70%
• Certification issued with an anti-counterfeit hologram security seal, available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy
• Covers hazard identification, PPE, site safety planning, reporting and documentation, and building a positive safety culture
• Available fully online to learners in the UK and internationally

Knowledge developed:

• Core construction site hazards and their associated controls
• The framework and duties set out under CDM 2015
• Principles of safe working at height and safe manual handling
• Reporting and documentation requirements for incidents and near misses

Skills developed:

• Hazard spotting and basic risk awareness on site
• Correct selection and use of PPE for common construction tasks
• Following safe systems of work for higher-risk activities
• Reporting safety concerns, incidents and near misses through the correct channel

This Award is designed for anyone entering or working within the construction sector, including:

• New starters and apprentices entering the construction industry
• General site operatives and labourers
• Trades workers seeking a refresher in core safety essentials
• Site supervisors and foremen building a consistent team-wide standard
• Health and safety officers and coordinators in construction
• Facilities and project managers overseeing construction or refurbishment work
• Contractors and subcontractors working on client sites
• Anyone responsible for inducting new workers onto a construction site

No prior qualification in construction or health and safety is required this Award is intended as an accessible entry point into the subject.

There are no formal academic prerequisites for this Level 1 Award. It is open to learners aged 16 and above with a reasonable standard of spoken and written English, sufficient to engage with course materials and complete the assessment. No prior experience in construction is assumed.

Course content is structured around progressive learning blocks covering core site hazards, CDM 2015 and the wider legal framework, PPE and safe systems of work, reporting and documentation, and building a positive safety culture.

Assessment is conducted through an online examination via the Britsafe Examination Management System (EMS). Learners must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass. On successful completion, learners receive a certificate, available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy. Results and certificates are typically issued promptly following successful completion.

While this Level 1 Award is a foundation qualification rather than a standalone career credential, it provides a relevant grounding for roles and responsibilities including:

• General Construction Operative
• Site Safety Assistant / Junior Coordinator
• Health and Safety Officer / Coordinator in construction
• Site Induction Officer
• A stepping stone toward supervisory or specialist construction safety careers

• General and residential construction
• Civil engineering and infrastructure projects
• Refurbishment and fit-out
• Demolition and groundworks
• House building and property development
• Facilities management overseeing construction or maintenance work
• Construction plant hire and logistics

• Establishes a consistent baseline safety standard across a construction workforce
• Supports compliance with CDM 2015 and wider UK health and safety duties
• Reduces the elevated incident risk associated with new or inexperienced workers
• Strengthens the defensibility of induction and training records during audits or incident investigations
• Supports the development of a genuine, embedded safety culture rather than a purely procedural one

• A recognised, portable credential relevant across the construction sector
• Practical, applicable knowledge rather than purely theoretical content
• A flexible short-course format (minimum 4 hours) that fits around work commitments
• A strong foundation before progressing to site-specific or higher-level construction safety training
• Increased confidence and hazard awareness from day one on site

Learners can apply this qualification directly to:

• Identifying and reporting hazards before they lead to an incident
• Selecting and correctly using PPE for the task at hand
• Following safe systems of work for higher-risk activities such as working at height or manual handling
• Completing accurate incident and near-miss reports
• Contributing positively to a site's overall safety culture
• Supporting site inductions for new starters

This Award is best positioned as an early step within a broader construction health and safety development pathway. Learners often pair or follow it with qualifications in:

• Understanding Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations
• Working at Height Awareness
• Manual Handling Awareness
• COSHH Awareness and Risk Assessment
• Broader occupational safety and health diplomas for those seeking supervisory or specialist roles

• Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in construction health and safety
• Specialist certifications in working at height, plant safety or CDM compliance
• Broader health and safety management qualifications, including diploma-level study
• Professional membership pathways with relevant occupational health and safety bodies

Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited delivers this qualification fully online, making it accessible to learners across the UK and internationally without the need to attend a physical training centre. This gives the qualification relevance for multinational construction and engineering firms building a consistent safety standard across sites, and for learners anywhere seeking a credential with cross-border applicability.

1. What does this qualification cover?
It covers the core hazards found on a typical construction site including working at height, moving plant, manual handling and hazardous substances along with PPE, safe systems of work, reporting and documentation, and building a positive site safety culture.

2. Who is this qualification aimed at?
Anyone new to the construction sector, general operatives, trades workers, supervisors, and anyone responsible for site inductions or team-wide safety standards.

3. Does this qualification lead to a CSCS card?
No. This is a Britsafe-issued Level 1 Award in construction health and safety essentials. It is not a substitute for, or automatically linked to, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) or its associated tests; learners should check CSCS's own current requirements separately if a CSCS card is needed.

4. Are there any entry requirements?
No formal prerequisites are required. Learners should have a reasonable standard of English and be aged 16 or above.

5. How long does the course take to complete?
The qualification has a minimum instructional contact time of 4 hours, making it a compact, focused course suitable for short-course or induction-level delivery.

6. How is the qualification assessed?
Through an online examination via the Britsafe Examination Management System, with a minimum pass mark of 70%.

7. Is this qualification recognised internationally?
Yes. Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited delivers this qualification fully online to learners across the UK and internationally.

8. What materials are provided with the course?
Learners receive digital (soft copy) course materials via the Britsafe learning management system. The course is delivered entirely online; there is no physical classroom attendance or physical course material.

9. What happens after I pass the exam?
Successful learners receive a certificate from Britsafe Qualifications UK Limited, featuring an anti-counterfeit hologram seal for authenticity. The certificate is available both as a physical copy and as a soft (digital) copy.

10. Can this qualification lead to further study?
Yes. It provides a foundation for progression into higher-level construction health and safety, CDM, or working at height qualifications.

11. Is this suitable for experienced construction workers, or only new starters?
While it is particularly valuable for new starters, experienced workers often use it as a refresher to reinforce core safety habits and stay current with best practice.