Raising The Bar Guidance
Raising the Bar and the Highways Safety Hub was conceived by pioneering safety practitioners in National Highways (NH) Major Projects Supply Chain Community. The purpose was to promote consistent and improving standards of occupational health and safety (OSH) management across NH Major Projects. This proved successful and consequently the audience and remit have grown beyond Major Projects and also beyond NH supply chain membership.
To maintain consistency and clarity of understanding for those developing and using the documents, there is a requirement for an agreed approach to control and manage the RtB documents and this guidance is detailed within Raising the Bar Framework Constitution Issue 1, dated June 2025. This is to give the necessary governance and a framework for implementation, whilst staying true to the original intent to aspire and inspire.
The Raising the Bar Framework Constitution can be found here:
To maintain consistency and clarity of understanding for those developing and using the documents, there is a requirement for an agreed approach to control and manage the RtB documents and this guidance is detailed within Raising the Bar Framework Constitution Issue 1, dated June 2025. This is to give the necessary governance and a framework for implementation, whilst staying true to the original intent to aspire and inspire.
The Raising the Bar Framework Constitution can be found here:
| rtb_framework_constitution_rev_1_june_2025.pdf |
RtB documents’ purpose is to promote ever higher standards of OSH management and sharing the successes and challenges in implementation, to champion and inspire innovation.
The intention is therefore to promote and encourage embracing all of the content.
Therefore, the term “shall” shall only to be applied for a standard or control which the National Highways supply chain community representatives consider to be fundamental and to be reasonably practicable in the majority of circumstances. It would be expected by the client and community that such items will be incorporated into all supply chain partner processes for working for or on behalf on National Highways, and supported by National Highways where relevant. Such items are those that National Highways would include, or refer to in project contracts as mandatory. There is a section in each RtB document where the mandatory elements will be detailed and supply chain partners shall ensure these elements are applied fully across all National Highways worksites. Where an action plan to achieve any mandatory requirements is required, it is the supply chain partners responsibility to manage such.
The current published series of documents can be found here:
The intention is therefore to promote and encourage embracing all of the content.
Therefore, the term “shall” shall only to be applied for a standard or control which the National Highways supply chain community representatives consider to be fundamental and to be reasonably practicable in the majority of circumstances. It would be expected by the client and community that such items will be incorporated into all supply chain partner processes for working for or on behalf on National Highways, and supported by National Highways where relevant. Such items are those that National Highways would include, or refer to in project contracts as mandatory. There is a section in each RtB document where the mandatory elements will be detailed and supply chain partners shall ensure these elements are applied fully across all National Highways worksites. Where an action plan to achieve any mandatory requirements is required, it is the supply chain partners responsibility to manage such.
The current published series of documents can be found here:
| rtb_index_june_25.xlsx |
Assurance arrangements against the requirements of these documents are to be undertaken through self-audit at a timescale determined by each supply chain partner. A tool to support the self audit of the mandatory elements is available on the Safety Hub website (and will be updated each time a RtB document is revised / issued). The current tool namely RtB checklist (pre June 2025 will remain accessible throughout the transition arrangements) and can be found here. A new self audit tool will become available for the updated RtB suite of documents (this will be updated when new RtB’s are issued).
| rtb_minimum_requirements_tracker__dec_23_update_.xlsx |
Raising The Bar Guidance
Here is the full collection of raising the bar guidance;
Here is the full collection of raising the bar guidance;
| mpi-23-022014_-_health__safety_raising_the_bar.pdf |
| b1_plant_equipment_v6_nov_21.pdf |
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| b3_plant_person_interface_march_2021.pdf |
| b4_temporary_vehicle_restraint_systems_october_2016.pdf |
| b5_behavioural_based_safety_october_2015.pdf |
B6 Temporary Accommodation ARCHIVED
| b7_overhead_structure_protection_may_2015.pdf |
B8 Manual Handling ARCHIVED
| b9_utility_avoidance_april_2024.pdf |
B10 Communication of Risk ARCHIVED
B11 Influencing Driver Behaviour ARCHIVED
| b12_fitness_to_work_sept_2021.pdf |
B13 Excavations Protection Access Egress ARCHIVED
B14 Slips Trips Falls ARCHIVED
B15 Task Lighting ARCHIVED
| b16_work_at_height_feb_23.pdf |
| b17_traffic_marshalls.pdf |
B18 Control of Dust ARCHIVED
B19 Noise ARCHIVED
| b20_transport___logistics_management_october_2016.pdf |
B21 Lean Health & Safety ARCHIVED
| b22_fatigue_management_september_23.pdf |
| b23_site_inductions_dec_2020.pdf |
| b24_hand_arm_vibration_december_2016.pdf |
| b25_legal_loads_october__2023.pdf |
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| b31_safety_helmet_colours_sept_16_v2.pdf |
| b33_occupational_cancer_oct_2016.pdf |
| rtb34_mental_health_toolbox.pdf |
| rtb35_loading_and_unloading_of_mobile_plant.pdf |
B36 Lost Loads ARCHIVED
| b37_-_vehicle_roadworthiness_v1_dec_2021.pdf |
| b38_ipv_inspection_and_testing_oct_2021.pdf |
| b39_-_traffic_safety_and_control_at_roadworks_v2_1_may_2025.pdf |
| b40_safety_critical_comms_june_2022.pdf |
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| b42_-_working_on_hardshoulders_and_roadside_verges_october_2023_v1_with_info_sheets.pdf |
