Chapter 1 Legal principles

What matters most is that construction work is done safely. Familiarity with the legal framework is secondary, but that familiarity can help identify what steps must be taken.

The purpose of this chapter is to explain in outline, but in a practical way, the principles of health and safety law. A clear grasp of those principles will make it easier to understand why (apart from the ethical, moral and social reasons associated with the prevention of accidents) compliance with the law is important. That understanding will also help you to work out what to do when dealing with innovative or unusual risk management situations.