Safety helmet colours
[edit] Overview
Build UK was established in 2015 and is the leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry, delivering change and enabling the construction supply chain to improve the efficiency and delivery of construction projects for the benefit of the UK economy. By bringing together Clients, Main Contractors, Trade Associations representing over 11,500 Specialist Contractors and other organisations committed to industry collaboration, Build UK represents in excess of 40% of UK construction.
In April 2016, Build UK published a new standard ‘Safety Helmet Colours’, to be implemented on all new construction sites, and all existing construction sites where practicable (exceptions include Network Rail, who only permit white and blue helmets on its infrastructure).
The standard was drafted in consultation with Build UK members to provide ‘… a clear and consistent approach to improve communication and safety across construction projects’.
Safety helmets are primarily intended to ‘…protect the upper part of a wearer’s head against injury from falling objects’ (ref BS EN 397 Industrial safety helmets), however, they can also indicate the role and competence of the wearer to others.
The colour standards for safety helmets set out by Build UK are:
- Black: Supervisor.
- Orange: Slinger / Signaller.
- White: Site Manager, Competent Operative, Vehicle Marshal (distinguished by the wearing of a different coloured high visibility vest).
- Blue: All those on site not undertaking one of the other roles.
It also prescribes two helmet stickers:
- Green: First Aider.
- Red: Fire Marshal.
All helmets must meet BS EN 397 or BS EN 12492 Industrial safety helmets.
Safety Helmet Colour was published alongside a Training Standard, specifying and promoting card schemes carrying the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) logo, which helps contractors assess the competence of construction workers and with their eligibility to work on-site.
Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “Health and safety is a priority for Build UK and we are delighted with the positive response from our members who have welcomed the latest standards, which aim to make life easier and help them meet the increasing demands of working on-site. We will continue to bring the contracting supply chain together to engage intelligently and collaboratively in policy debates ensuring that Build UK, as the voice of the industry, leads positive and meaningful change”.
In September 2016, Highways England announced they would adopt the hard hat colour system for all construction and maintenance sites from 1 January 2017.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.