ISO 45001 in the construction industry – specific requirements and the most common hazards

For years, the construction industry has topped the statistics for fatal accidents at work in Poland. According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), in 2024 this sector recorded the highest number of fatalities of any sector of the economy – whilst the number of serious accidents rose by over 50 per cent compared with the previous year. Implementing ISO 45001 in the construction industry is not merely an option for companies concerned about their image – it is a tool that, in practice, saves lives and reduces the employer’s legal and financial risks.

The specific nature of risks in the construction industry and the requirements of the standard

The construction industry stands out from other sectors due to several characteristics that make health and safety management particularly challenging. Work takes place in variable, often unpredictable conditions – construction sites are dynamic environments where the layout of workstations, tools, machinery and workers changes on a daily basis. At the same time, employees and dozens of subcontractors operate in parallel on the same site, creating a complex web of responsibility for safety.

ISO 45001 addresses this specific aspect directly. The standard requires that hazard identification be a continuous process and take into account changes in work processes and conditions – which, in the construction industry, means that risk assessments must be systematically updated as work progresses at every stage of a project. A one-off assessment carried out before construction begins is not sufficient. The standard’s requirement regarding the supervision of subcontractors is particularly important. In the construction industry, this is one of the most difficult challenges – the main contractor is responsible for the safety of everyone on the construction site, regardless of whether they are its own employees or external subcontractors. ISO 45001 requires an organisation to define health and safety requirements for all parties carrying out work under its control and to verify compliance with these requirements. In practice, this means having documented procedures for the approval of subcontractors, the assessment of their health and safety systems, and the ongoing supervision of their activities on the construction site.

The most common hazards and how ISO 45001 helps to manage them

The construction industry is characterised by several groups of hazards, which account for the vast majority of serious accidents.

• Falls from height – the number one hazard in the construction industry in Poland and worldwide. ISO 45001 requires a detailed and regularly updated risk assessment for work at height, as well as the application of a hierarchy of control measures: collective measures (safety nets, guardrails, scaffolding) must be prioritised, with personal protective equipment (harnesses, safety belts) used only as a last resort.
• Operation of machinery and equipment – cranes, excavators, concrete mixers and saws operate in close proximity to workers. The standard requires documented procedures for the safe operation of each piece of equipment, the designation of hazard zones, a communication system between operators and other workers, and the verification of qualifications and regular technical inspections of the equipment.
• Work in trenches and confined spaces – poses hazards that are difficult to predict without a systematic analysis. ISO 45001 requires work authorisation procedures covering an assessment of the atmosphere, securing the trench walls and establishing safety measures – which must be familiar to workers and regularly practised.
• Chemical agents and dusts – asbestos, silica dust, solvents, paints and adhesives constitute a broad spectrum of chemical exposure. The standard requires chemical hazards to be taken into account in risk assessments, not just physical ones. This is the area with the greatest gaps – the health effects of exposure are delayed, meaning that hazards often go unrecognised.

ISO 45001 in construction tenders – a market requirement

ISO 45001 certification has become a genuine criterion for market access in the construction industry, not merely a matter of corporate image. Large organisations carrying out infrastructure projects, property developers and main contractors are increasingly requiring subcontractors to have a documented health and safety management system as a condition for admission to a tender or for the conclusion of a contract. Holding the certificate eliminates the need for time-consuming qualification audits to be carried out by each contracting authority individually.

In the context of public procurement, the requirement for OHS system certification also appears in the tender specifications for high-risk contracts – particularly for work at height, demolition works and infrastructure projects. For construction firms planning to grow and expand into new markets, ISO 45001 certification is an investment that pays for itself by providing access to contracts that were previously out of reach.