Principal Contractor

The CDM regulations have placed specific duties on the Principal Contractor, and due to the change in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations in 2015 this now includes domestic projects.

The CDM 2015 regulations put a duty on the Principal Contractor to:

· “plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, construction work is carried out without risks to health or safety.”

· Take into consideration the health and safety risks of everyone coming into contact with the work (including deliveries and members of the public) in their planning and measures to control the risks.

· Liaise with the Client and Principal Designer for the duration of the project in order to effectively manage all foreseeable risks.

· Prior to starting work prepare a construction phase plan. Implement the plan and regularly review and revise it to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

· Have arrangements in place in order to effectively manage health and safety throughout the construction phase.

· Consult the workforce regarding their health, safety and welfare.

· Ensure the welfare facilities provided are suitable and sufficient for the people on site and that they are in place for the full duration of the project.

· Ensure that all appointed sub-contractors have been sufficiently vetted to assess that they have the required skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capacity to undertake their work without risk to health and safety.

· Ensure that all workers receive a site specific site induction and any further information and training that they require.

· Take sufficient steps to securing the site preventing unauthorised access

· Liaise with the Principal Designer to ensure they are kept aware of any risks pertaining to the pre-construction phase.

We understand the challenges of construction projects and the responsibilities that CDM Regulations 2015 and health and safety legislation place upon contractors of all shapes and sizes.

Whether you are appointed as the Principal Contractor on a project or a sub-contractor, we can support you to meet your client’s needs and help make sure that the works are delivered safely without accident, incident, or injury to anyone. Example services include:

Review and development of project Construction Phase Plan
Risk assessments / COSHH assessments
Safe systems of work including Permits to Work
Site monitoring including site audit and inspection tools
Training – CDM, construction H&S toolbox talks, eLearning
Accident and incident investigations
Client CDM assurance services
Temporary works management
HARM Zero – Design risk management