Safety training is always high on the agenda in the construction sector, especially in winter when risks are higher, but a recent survey could has put it firmly under the microscope.
Delivering training is a legal requirement for employers in order to meet UK safety laws and it plays an important role in keeping everyone in the industry as safe as possible.
It’s something that construction businesses and health and safety teams think about every single day.
However, in a survey we commissioned at SafeSite Facilties which delivers site safety products to construction companies nationwide, employees in the industry have made a clear call for improvements.
Better safety training sat top of the list when respondents were asked what changes would make construction sites significantly safer in the future – chosen by over 30%.
That’s a clear message that deserves to be listened to. It’s worth taking a look at the full list:
1. Better safety training 30%
2 Enhanced communication and reporting systems on site: 30%
3 More onsite support 29%
4 Stricter enforcements of safety regulations and audits 27%
5 Stronger perimeter fencing and hoarding systems 26%
6 24/7 site monitoring: 25%
7 Improved mental health support and awareness 24%
8 AI-enabled CCTV 20%
There was one other answer that also provides insight: just 1% answered that there were no changes that could make construction sites safer.
That opinion shouldn’t come as big surprise considering 35 people in the construction industry lost their lives in work-related incidents in 2024-25.
That represents more than 28% of work-related deaths across all industries in the UK, with 124 fatalities reported in total according to the Health & Safety Executive.
The findings in this latest survey are a further cause for concern.
To address them, construction businesses need to go beyond training and consider competency, looking at training, qualifications and experience.
Our survey also revealed 8 out of 10 in the construction industry felt unprepared for a safety issue due to lack of training.
That should be a wake-up call for everyone involved in safety across the industry, from board level down.
There’s a school of thought that emergency preparedness has become an overlooked priority in today’s construction landscape, especially in the post-COVID era.
Before the pandemic, regular drills and business continuity testing were standard practice.
But with the rise of hybrid working and fragmented site attendance, many companies have allowed these critical safety protocols to slip off the agenda.
Whether it’s bomb threat, a medical emergency, or a site evacuation, teams need to be ready.
Additionally, with an ageing workforce in the construction sector in which the average worker is now in their mid-50s, the risks are even more acute.
Robust safety training and preparedness saves lives, whether that’s installing defibrillators or training staff and having clear safety procedures in place.
It shouldn’t take a survey to inspire the industry to take action, but these results are a big reason to re-double everyone’s efforts to improve site safety.
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