PHG Safety Services LTD

 

Construction Safety

We offer a number of different services to contractors including site safety inspections, formulation of Construction Phase Health and Safety Plans, assistance with traffic management and fire safety planning, toolbox talks, contractors pre-qualification and many other aspects which enable Principal Contractors and Sub-contractors to ensure their sites and activities are safe

If you require assistance with maintaining or improving health and safety standards on your sites contact PHG Safety Services Ltd

Should you be interested in using PHG Safety Services Ltd to assist you, please contact our team on 01461 201687 info@phg-services.com

 
 

CDM Regulations

CDM Regulations 2015 – Your Duties

Client

1. The client has overall responsibility for the successful management of the project. They should ensure that the project is set up to control the risks to health and safety.

2. If the works involve a single contractor, the client does not need to appoint a principal designer or principal contractor as these duties will default to the contractor.

3. Prepare a project brief with the principal designer.

4. Ensure sufficient time and resources are allocated and available to complete the design and construction works. Select the project team and ensure that all those appointed are capable to perform the tasks required. Capability assessments (competency) of the project team should be considered for all, but particularly for larger or complex projects.

5. Notify the HSE for projects that are on site longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working on the project at any one time or exceed 500 person days.

6. Make suitable arrangements for managing the project. Confirm and allocate key health and safety tasks and ensure everyone understands what they have to do, and when to do it.

7. Identify and obtain pre-construction information that is proportionate to the risks of the project.

8. Check and ensure the principal designer and principal contractor carry out their duties.

9. Check and confirm that an adequate construction phase plan has been produced by the principal contractor before works proceed on site. The plans must be project specific with information proportionate to the health and safety risks.

10. Check and confirm that suitable welfare facilities are provided.

11. Ensure that suitable handover arrangements are in place on completion of the project. Ensure that the health and safety file content is agreed before construction starts and a suitable file is obtained from the PD or PC at completion. Keep the file available for future use.

 

Principal Contractor

1. The principal contractor manages the construction phase of the project. They should plan, manage, monitor, co-ordinate, liaise and co-operate with the client, designers and contractors during the construction phase. For some projects they may be involved at the pre-construction phase.

2. For domestic projects the client duties will normally default to the principal contractor unless another person has been appointed by the client to do this.

3. Prepare, implement, manage and develop the construction phase plan.

4. Take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised access to the site including the use of fencing and signage, etc.

5. Ensure that suitable welfare facilities are provided and maintained during the works.

6. Ensure site inductions are carried out so that every worker has information about relevant risks and site rules. Workers are consulted and engaged in securing their health and safety.

7. Provide appropriate site supervision and management. Site management should be provided by persons with necessary skills, knowledge, experience and training

Principal Designer

1. The principal designer (PD) manages health and safety in the pre-construction phase of the project. They also assist the client to identify, obtain, collate and issue pre-construction information to other duty holders. During the construction phase the role is more limited and may include liaison with the contractors and any on-going design work.

2. Should be appointed in writing by the client and confirm the clients brief for the project that must include relevant health and safety matters. Ensure the client is advised of what you will do as the principal designer. Note; for domestic clients you may not need an appointment in writing as you may automatically be the PD if you are the first designer appointed on a multi-contractor project.

3. Review pre-construction information for adequacy. Prepare the information that should be specific to the project and cover significant risks and hazards. The information should be clear, concise and easily understandable.

4. Co-ordinate the pre-construction phase.

5. Ensure other designers, including any temporary works or sub-contractor designers comply with their duties and co-operate. Tell other designers what is expected of them and that they identify health and safety risks for the life of the building (eg RAG lists / DRA’S to be provided and reviewed).

6. The PD should consider the need for design co-ordination meetings, site inspections, contractor meetings, client meetings, site meetings, etc. particularly for larger or complex projects.

7. Oversee design decisions, with particular regard to foreseeable significant risks and hazards of the project. Identify, eliminate, control/record and manage any residual risks of the project.  Any unusual or significant risks should be clearly recorded and identified on plans/design information. Consider the use of RAG lists and need for design risks assessments (DRA’s)

8. Communicate with the client to keep them informed about health and safety matters. Where necessary advise them of any duty holder not complying with their duties.

9. Liaise and communicate with the Principal Contractor during the construction phase (where relevant). Ensure that they have the necessary pre-construction information to develop a construction phase plan and manage the works. Manage and review any design changes during the construction phase.

10. Prepare and/or develop and agree the format and content of the health and safety file at the end of the project and hand it over to the client (where relevant). If the PD appointment ends before completion this duty should pass to the principal contractor.