Field notes

The rules you have to work to

Plain explanations of the UK regulations, deadlines and pricing decisions that decide whether a construction business makes money. Written for contractors, with the statute cited, and useful whether or not you ever buy anything from us.

38 articles

Showing 7 of 38 · Health & Safety

Regulatory change

CDM, the F10 and the Building Safety Act: where the rules stand in 2026

The F10 thresholds are what they were in 2015. The thing that changed is that a principal contractor in England is now two appointments with one name, and a tall residential building is a different regime altogether.

16 September 20268 min
Health & Safety

Construction phase plan: who writes it, and when is it required?

Required on every construction project, including the domestic ones most people assume are exempt. A generic template is the commonest failing an inspector finds.

7 September 20265 min
Health & Safety

Scaffold inspections: the seven-day rule and what else triggers one

Every seven days, before first use, and after any event that could affect stability. The report has to be completed before the end of the working period.

7 September 20264 min
Health & Safety

Toolbox talks: what the law asks for and what makes one work

No regulation uses the phrase. The duty behind it is statutory, and the attendance record is what proves you met it.

7 September 20264 min
Health & Safety

Asbestos surveys: which one you need before work starts

A management survey does not cover work that disturbs the building. Starting refurbishment on one is the commonest and most serious mistake on older buildings.

7 September 20264 min
Health & Safety

CDM 2015: when do I need to notify HSE on an F10?

Two thresholds decide it, and one of them has an "and" in it that half the industry reads as "or". Notification is also the least important part of CDM.

23 June 20266 min
Health & Safety

What must a RAMS actually contain?

A risk assessment says what could go wrong. A method statement says how the work will be done so it doesn’t. Most rejected RAMS have plenty of the first and none of the second.

16 June 20267 min
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Blog: UK Construction Regulations, Payment and Pricing — Estimark