Building your own home is a dream for many, but there are risks involved.

Take care to ensure your building site is run safely and effectively, and you could win a discount on your self build insurance.

Your self build toolkit

This is a brief checklist to help identify and prevent accidents on your home building site.

It’s your responsibility to take simple health and safety precautions, especially if you employ contractors or other workers on your site.

Top risk areas on a building site

• Scaffolds
• Ladders
• Roof work
• Manual handling
• Tools and machinery
• Fire
• Harmful substances and activities
• Electricity
• Protecting the public
• Signage and personal protective equipment

Builders' insurance

You should obtain written confirmation of the following from the contractors you employ:

• Policy number or numbers
• Renewal date
• Limits of indemnity
• Details of any exclusions on the policy which relates to your property
• Ensure that the policy protects all contractors or workmen on your site