HSE plan and SHA plan in construction - requirements, responsibilities and differences
📌 Updated February 2026: The article has been updated with current requirements for HSE plans and SHA plans in construction projects. Reading time : 6 minutes
The construction industry has strict health, safety and environmental requirements. To ensure safe working conditions and compliance with legislation, both an HSE plan and a SHA plan must be in place.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different roles and responsibilities. In this article, we explain the difference, what requirements apply, and who is responsible.
What is an HSE plan in construction?
An HSE plan describes how the business works systematically with health, environment and safety to prevent accidents and ensure safe working conditions.
HSE work is required by law in Norway and applies to all businesses, including construction. The HSE plan is part of the business's internal control and applies across projects.
In short, the HSE plan should:
ensure the health and safety of workers
prevent accidents and injuries
protect the external environment
document how HSE work is carried out in practice
What does the law say about HSE in construction?
HSE work is regulated by several laws and regulations. The most important are:
The Working Environment Act
The employer is obliged to ensure systematic HSE work. The work must be planned, organized, documented and followed up, and employees must receive the necessary training.
Internal Control Regulations
Businesses must have an internal control system that shows how requirements in HSE legislation are complied with. The HSE plan is a central part of this system.
Labour Inspectorate
Supervises compliance with HSE requirements and can issue orders, stop work or impose fines in the event of violations.
What should an HSE plan contain?
An HSE plan should be adapted to the business and the work being carried out. For construction projects, the plan should include:
basic information about the business
organizational chart and role distribution
risk assessments and preventive measures
routines for safe job analysis (SJA)
preparedness for first aid, fire and accidents
waste management routines and environmental measures
procedures for handling deviations
references to relevant laws and regulations
The plan must be known to employees and available where the work is carried out.
👉 Routines for safe job analysis (SJA) are an important part of the HSE plan for risky work.
🔗 Read more about what a safe job analysis (SJA) is and when it should be carried out
What is a SHA plan?
SHA stands for safety, health and working environment and is used in connection with the construction regulations. A SHA plan is a project-specific plan that is intended to ensure proper HSE work at the individual building or construction site.
The SHA plan shall, among other things, describe:
the organization of the HSE work in the project
special risk factors associated with the project
concrete measures to reduce risk
These are key requirements for SHA plans according to the developer regulations in building and construction projects.
Who is responsible for the SHA plan?
According to the Building Owners' Regulations, the building owner is responsible for preparing a SHA plan for each project. This means that the building owner has the formal responsibility for ensuring that the requirements for the SHA plan are met before work begins.
In practice, responsibility can be divided as follows:
Client: overall responsibility for ensuring that the SHA plan exists and is followed
SHA coordinator: may be given responsibility for preparing and updating the plan
Contractors: contribute with risk assessments and follow the plan in execution
The difference between HSE plan and SHA plan
The difference between HSE plan and SHA plan in construction can be summarized as follows:
The HSE plan is business-based and describes the systematic HSE work over time.
The SHA plan is project-based and applies to safety, health and the working environment at the specific construction site.
Both plans are required by law and have different roles in building and construction projects.
Why are both HSE plans and SHA plans important?
The HSE plan ensures that the business has a stable and legally required basis for safe operations, training and accident prevention.
The SHA plan ensures that project-specific risks – such as working at height, heavy lifting, blasting or the use of machinery – are managed in a structured manner.
Without an HSE plan, the business lacks a comprehensive HSE system.
Without a SHA plan, responsibilities and safety on the construction site often become unclear.
How are HSE, SHA and non-conformity management related?
Non-conformities that occur on the construction site must be handled in accordance with the project's HSE and SHA plan. The plans describe which requirements apply and who is responsible, while the actual follow-up of incidents takes place through non-conformity management.
👉 Read more about how deviations are handled in practice in our article about deviation management in construction .
To ensure that the HSE and SHA plans do not just become documents, but are actually followed up in practice throughout the project, good structure and documentation are essential.
Digital tools for HSE and SHA
As projects become larger and more complex, the need for structured documentation and follow-up also increases. Digital HSE and SHA tools make it easier to:
collect HSE and SHA documentation in one place
keep plans up to date
ensure traceability and compliance
make information available to all involved
With a project management system adapted to construction and civil engineering, HSE and SHA work can be collected, followed up and documented throughout the entire project cycle.
Frequently asked questions about HSE plans and SHA plans in construction
Below we have collected answers to common questions about HSE plans and SHA plans in construction.
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The HSE plan applies to the business over time, while the SHA plan applies to the individual building or construction project.
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A SHA plan is required in all building and construction projects covered by the Building Owners' Regulations.
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The employer is responsible for ensuring that the business has systematic HSE work and an updated HSE plan.
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Sole proprietorships without employees are not required to have a complete HSE system, but must follow applicable HSE requirements in the workplace.
Do you want to gain better control over HSE and SHA?
With clear HSE and SHA plans, you get better structure, safer working conditions and better compliance with legal requirements in construction projects.