Posted By Ken Urquhart
Tony.

Probably the best place to start your research is the HSE web site. www.hse.gov.uk

Here you will find details of what the HSE is, what it does and the areas of work and public safety that it deals with.

As regards HSE in Construction, in simple terms the Division of the HSE relating to Construction monitors that the National Law applicable to Health & Safety at Work is complied with by Construction organisations.

Includes all sizes and styles of Construction/Construction related businesses. (From the local small builder to the multinational corporate company).

Secondly HSE is there to ensure that the employed and the self employed are aware that Health & Safety Law exists, involves them and that in the work environment each and every one of us is given the safeguards and protection that the Law requires us to have.

HSE take enforcement action against Companies, (Employers and sometimes individuals) who do not follow the Law and or who breach it, (Have Accidents/Incidents etc., which they could have prevented by managing Health & Saftey):
Individuals who should have followed the rules or used the devices or systems put in place for their protection.
In some cases where the individual knowingly and deliberately ignores safeguards and does it there way. This sometimes means that they are not affected but they can and do cause injury, damage to others, which can include the public.


Sounds also that perhaps your course syllabus does not have thorough Health & Safety content.

From this IOSH web site and the HSE web site you will find extensive links to related Health & Safety sites of Governmental, European and private organisations. Dipping into these will help give you a broad picture of Health & Safety in industry and commerce and of Construction worldwide.

Also, what Professional body do you aspire to membership of after qualification/experiential practice in your chosen career in Construction.
If a body such as The Charterd Institute of Building, then contact them for Health & Safety support and advice as given to student members and to their ranks of exisiting qualified Professional Members.

Also you could contact IOSH HQ for the attention of the Construction specialist group section some of whose whose membership I am sure would be willing to help you further.

Hope this information is sufficient to get you started.

Regards.
Ken Urquhart