HSE – or HMS, as we call it in Norway – are three small letters that mean everything for safety in construction. It’s what ensures that people get home safely after work.

Every time a manager reminds workers to wear helmets and safety boots, every time a safety representative follows up on a deviation, and every time someone speaks up — HSE works as intended: as a shared responsibility. An HSE plan should be alive, not collecting dust in a binder.

HSE stands for Health, Safety and Environment, which corresponds to Helse, Miljø og Sikkerhet (HMS) in Norwegian. The term describes how companies protect people, property, and the environment through systematic work.

In practice, it means:

• Health: preventing both physical and mental strain
• Safety: reducing risk and ensuring training, protective equipment, and emergency preparedness
• Environment: taking responsibility for resource use, emissions, and waste

HSE is about more than routines – it’s about creating a culture of safety and accountability.

An HSE plan is the project’s safety manual. It describes how health, safety, and the environment will be managed throughout the project and is required under the Working Environment Act.

A good HSE plan example includes:

• Risk assessments and action plans
• Defined roles and responsibilities (including the safety representative)
• Reporting procedures and deviation management

The HSE plan isn’t a document meant to gather dust — it should be used, updated, and shared.

Construction sites are among the most high-risk workplaces. Multiple trades work in the same space, often under pressure and with strict documentation requirements.

That’s why HSE isn’t optional – it’s essential to make sure everyone gets home safely. A strong HSE culture leads to fewer accidents, higher quality, and more satisfied employees.

The Working Environment Act requires all companies to maintain systematic HSE practices. This means:

• Identifying risks
• Implementing measures to reduce them
• Ensuring employees receive training and personal protective equipment (PPE)

The law also requires everyone to be involved – especially through an active safety representative who monitors workplace conditions.

Even experienced organizations face challenges such as:

• Information and documentation stored in multiple systems
• Updates not reaching all project participants
• Difficulty tracing accountability
• Time-consuming audits and reporting

These issues rarely stem from lack of commitment — but from lack of structure.

Digitalisation makes HSE work easier, faster, and more transparent. Instead of scattered spreadsheets and emails, you can have a single, shared system where everything is stored, updated, and accessible.

With Cobuilder Collaborate, you can:

• Store all HSE plans, safety data sheets, and reports in one place
• Track versions and responsibilities in real time
• Collaborate seamlessly between client, contractor, and supplier
• Generate audit-ready reports with one click

The result? Less risk. Less stress. More control.

Every actor in a construction project has responsibilities:

• The client must set requirements and follow up.
• The contractor must implement the measures in practice.
• The safety representative ensures workers’ voices are heard.
• Every employee shares responsibility for following routines and speaking up.

HSE only works when everyone is involved.

1. Review your current HSE routines
2. Digitalise your documentation
3. Gather everything in one collaborative platform

• What does a safety representative actually do?
• Everything you need to know about PPE – personal protective equipment
• What the Working Environment Act says about HSE responsibilities
• How to use hazard labels correctly on site