Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections are just part of life in construction. Some are planned, some turn up out of the blue, and a few arrive off the back of something already having gone wrong. Either way, how a site handles an inspection can have a big impact on the job, the programme, and sometimes the wider business.
We spend a lot of time supporting clients around HSE inspections, both before inspectors arrive and when they’re already on site. In most cases, the difference between a straightforward visit and enforcement action comes down to preparation and day-to-day standards, not last-minute scrambling.
What Actually Happens During an HSE Inspection
An HSE inspection is essentially a check that health and safety law is being followed on site. Inspectors have wide powers. They can enter site, look at paperwork, speak to workers, take photographs and, if needed, stop work.
Some inspections are proactive, where the HSE is carrying out routine monitoring in higher-risk sectors. Others are reactive, following an accident, a near miss or a complaint. We also see targeted inspections focusing on specific activities like work at height, excavations or demolition, particularly if those risks are common in the area.
Once an inspector is on site, they will normally look at both the physical conditions and how the job is being managed.
Why Construction Sites get Inspected so Often
Construction still has one of the highest accident and fatality rates in the UK. That’s the simple reason the HSE keeps a close eye on it. Inspections are there to catch unsafe practices before someone gets hurt, not just to react after the fact.
Common triggers we see include poor housekeeping, unsafe access at height, inadequate welfare, or sites that look disorganised from the outside. Sometimes it’s paperwork-related. Other times it’s as basic as materials blocking walkways or missing edge protection.
What Inspectors Tend to Focus on
Although every visit is different, there are some regular themes that come up time and again.
Inspectors will usually want to see site-specific risk assessments and method statements, not generic documents that could apply anywhere. They’ll often ask for the Construction Phase Plan and check whether it actually reflects what’s happening on site.
Training and competence is another big one. Inspectors frequently speak directly to workers to see if they understand the risks of the task they’re doing, not just whether they’ve signed an induction sheet. PPE use, supervision, plant safety and traffic management also get a lot of attention.
Housekeeping might sound minor, but in reality it’s often used as a marker of overall standards. A messy site tends to raise more questions.
Enforcement Action and What it Means in Practice
If issues are found, the response depends on the level of risk.
For lower-level problems, an inspector may give verbal advice or follow up with written guidance. This is usually a warning shot and shouldn’t be ignored.
Improvement Notices are more serious. These are issued where legal duties aren’t being met and come with a deadline to put things right. Prohibition Notices are issued where there’s a serious risk of injury, and work must stop immediately until the issue is resolved.
In the more serious cases, particularly where there’s been an incident or repeated non-compliance, prosecution can follow. Beyond fines, the knock-on effects on reputation, insurance and client confidence are often what hurt the most.
Preparing Properly for an HSE Visit
The best preparation is running the site properly every day. Inspections rarely go badly because of one small oversight; it’s usually a pattern of things slipping.
Keeping documentation current and relevant makes a big difference. RAMS should reflect the actual job, not just what was planned months ago. Housekeeping needs to be maintained, not tidied up when someone hears a rumour that the HSE is in the area.
We often find that regular site inspections and audits catch issues early, before they become something an inspector picks up. Training, inductions and supervision all need to be real, not just tick-box exercises.
Where Sites Commonly Fall Short
Some of the same issues come up repeatedly during inspections.
Outdated or generic RAMS are a common problem, as is missing or incomplete Construction Phase Plans. Poor edge protection, unsafe ladder use and inadequate welfare facilities also feature heavily.
Traffic management is another area that gets overlooked, particularly on smaller sites. These issues are usually preventable, but only if they’re actively managed.
Support During and Around Inspections
We work with clients at different stages. Sometimes that’s carrying out pre-inspection audits to identify gaps. Other times it’s helping put CDM arrangements in place properly, developing Construction Phase Plans, or reviewing RAMS so they’re fit for purpose.
We’re also regularly involved during live HSE visits, helping site teams respond correctly and making sure actions raised are dealt with properly afterwards. In most cases, early support reduces stress and prevents small issues escalating.
If an Inspector Turns Up on Site
The basics still apply. Stay professional, cooperate fully and provide what’s asked for. If you don’t know the answer to something, don’t guess. It’s better to say you’ll check.
Make a note of what’s discussed and any actions raised. Having competent health and safety support you can call on during the visit often helps keep things calm and controlled.
HSE inspections aren’t something to panic about, but they do need to be taken seriously. Sites that manage health and safety properly day in, day out generally find inspections straightforward. Those that don’t tend to find the cracks show very quickly.
Hurst Setter supports construction companies nationwide with practical, real-world health and safety management, helping sites stay compliant, organised and ready for inspection whenever it happens.
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