Exhibition stands fall under the same UK health and safety framework as any other construction project, including CDM regulations, and exhibitors carry real legal duties even when a contractor is doing the physical build. The most common mistake is assuming health and safety is entirely your stand company's problem — in practice, responsibility is shared, and knowing your part of it protects your team and your show, not just your contractor.
CDM Duties and What They Mean for Exhibitors
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations apply to exhibition stand building work in the UK, which means duties are split between client, designer and contractor roles — and as the exhibitor commissioning the stand, you typically sit in the client role. A competent stand company will manage the detail, but you're still responsible for providing accurate information about your requirements and for choosing a contractor capable of doing the job safely.
Risk Assessments and Method Statements
Any stand beyond a basic shell scheme — double-deck structures, rigged elements, AV integration, working at height — typically needs a risk assessment and method statement, usually produced by your stand company and often required by the venue before build day. Ask for these upfront as part of your brief, not as an afterthought once the design is finalised.
Key Terms: CDM, RAMS and Approval to Build
A handful of terms come up in every pre-show safety pack. Here's what they actually mean:
- CDM Regulations — the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, the UK law that governs health and safety duties on any construction project, including exhibition stand builds. It splits responsibility between the client (typically you, the exhibitor), the designer and the contractor.
- Risk Assessment (RA) — identifies the hazards specific to your stand build — falls from height, manual handling, electrical work and more — who's at risk, and the control measures in place, scored using a probability x severity method to set an action level.
- Method Statement (MS) — sets out how and in what sequence the stand will be built and broken down safely: the named responsible person, access route into the venue, erection sequence, structural stability calculations, lifting and work-at-height equipment, COSHH, and on-site safety features.
- RAMS — shorthand for Risk Assessment & Method Statement, the paired documents almost every UK venue requires before a space-only stand can be built.
- Approval to Build — the venue or organiser's sign-off on your design and RAMS ahead of build day, confirming it fits the space, meets height and floor-loading limits, and clears any venue safety comments.
We produce RAMS and secure Approval to Build on every project we deliver — ask your contractor whether that's standard practice or an extra.
On-Site Safety During Build and Show Days
Build day carries real risk — multiple contractors working in a confined space, heavy equipment moving, and time pressure to finish before doors open. A competent stand company manages this with clear site rules, PPE where needed, and a named person responsible for safety on-site. During the show itself, day-to-day stand safety — trailing cables, stable furniture, clear sightlines — becomes your team's responsibility as the exhibitor.
What to Check Before You Book a Contractor
Ask any prospective stand company about their health and safety accreditation and their approach to CDM compliance — a contractor with ESSA Tier 5 accreditation, for example, has been independently assessed on health and safety standards, not just design and build quality. See our comprehensive checklist of questions to ask an exhibition stand builder before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do CDM regulations apply to exhibition stands?
Yes — exhibition stand building work falls under the UK's CDM regulations, with duties split between client (typically the exhibitor), designer and contractor roles.
Who is responsible for health and safety on an exhibition stand — me or my contractor?
Both, in different ways. Your contractor manages the physical build safely; you're responsible for providing accurate requirements and choosing a competent, accredited contractor.
Does my stand need a risk assessment?
Usually, if it's anything beyond a basic shell scheme — double-deck structures, rigging, AV, or working at height typically require a risk assessment and method statement.
What does ESSA accreditation tell me about a contractor's safety standards?
ESSA Tier 5, the industry's highest tier, is independently assessed across health & safety, financial stability, sustainability and quality — a genuine signal of competence beyond a contractor's portfolio.
What happens if my exhibition stand doesn't meet health and safety standards?
The venue or organiser can refuse Approval to Build, demand on-the-spot design changes, or stop construction mid-build if your RAMS, structural certification or on-site safety isn't in order — in serious cases, a non-compliant stand can be denied access to the show floor entirely. Submitting RAMS and design sign-off early, with an accredited contractor, is what avoids this.
Want a contractor who takes this seriously? Talk to our team.
