Construction & Safety Compliance Glossary
Clear definitions for construction compliance terms - from CSCS cards and LOLER inspections to CDM regulations and working-at-height permits. Written for site managers, contractors, and safety officers.
Why Construction Certificate Tracking Matters
Construction sites are among the most heavily regulated workplaces in the UK. Workers need current CSCS cards to access sites. Equipment needs valid LOLER inspection certificates. Projects need up-to-date CDM documentation. When any of these expire unnoticed, work stops - or worse, unsafe work continues without the right oversight.
Site managers and compliance officers must track dozens of certificates across workers, plant, and equipment - often with different renewal cycles. This glossary defines the key terms so your team understands what's required, when it expires, and what happens if it lapses.
Track CSCS cards, LOLER inspections & site certificates
ExpiryEdge sends automated alerts before each construction certificate expires - for every worker and piece of equipment on your sites.
Construction & site safety: common questions
What is a LOLER examination and how often is it required?
LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) requires thorough examination of lifting equipment by a competent person — typically every 6 months for equipment lifting people and every 12 months for other lifting equipment, or in line with an examination scheme. An out-of-date LOLER certificate means the equipment should not be used, which can halt work on site.
What does CDM mean for compliance deadlines?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) set duties for managing health and safety across a project. They drive recurring obligations — competence checks, training currency, and documentation such as the construction phase plan — that must be kept current for the life of the project. Lapsed worker certifications are a common CDM gap flagged in audits.
Which certifications do site managers most often track?
Typical recurring items include CSCS cards, plant operator (CPCS/NPORS) tickets, first-aid certificates, asbestos awareness, working-at-height and confined-space training, and equipment inspections such as LOLER and PUWER. Each has its own expiry, so site managers maintain a live register and renew ahead of time to avoid stand-downs.
How does ExpiryEdge help construction and trades businesses?
ExpiryEdge tracks every worker certification, plant ticket, and equipment inspection date in one place, assigns an owner to each, and sends reminders before anything expires. That keeps crews compliant and on site, and gives principal contractors an audit-ready record of currency when they ask for it.