New Year, Safer Sites: Reviewing Documents and Refreshing Health & Safety Training

Posted on January 30, 2026

The start of a new year is an ideal time to refocus on health and safety across your construction activities. As projects move forward and new ones begin, taking time to review key documentation and deliver refresher training helps ensure safe systems of work remain effective, understood, and consistently applied.

Reviewing Health & Safety Documentation

Health and safety documents are only effective if they are current, relevant, and reflective of how work is actually carried out on site. Over time, changes in legislation, guidance, plant, or working practices can leave documents outdated without it being immediately obvious.

Key documents to review include:

Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
Construction Phase Plans
Policies and procedures
Emergency arrangements and permits to work

The new year provides a natural checkpoint to confirm these documents:

Reflect current legislation and best practice
Address site-specific risks and controls
Are clear, practical, and communicated to the workforce

A structured review reduces the risk of gaps in control measures and helps ensure that everyone is working to the same safety standards.

Refresher Training: Reinforcing Safe Working Practices

Refresher training plays a vital role in maintaining a strong health and safety culture. Even experienced operatives and supervisors benefit from regular reminders, particularly where tasks are high risk or procedures have changed.

Refresher training helps to:

Reinforce safe systems of work and site rules
Address complacency and unsafe habits that can develop over time
Update teams on changes to legislation, guidance, or company procedures
Encourage engagement and open discussion around health and safety

Whether delivered through toolbox talks, formal sessions, or site briefings, refresher training ensures safety remains at the forefront of daily operations.

Setting Expectations for the Year Ahead

By prioritising document reviews and refresher training at the start of the year, you can set a clear standard for health and safety moving forward. It demonstrates a proactive approach to risk management and a commitment to protecting everyone involved in your projects.

Time invested now helps prevent incidents, near misses, and non-compliance later in the year. Strong health and safety foundations will support safer sites, smoother projects, and a more confident workforce throughout the year ahead.