Did you know that every construction project in the UK that has more than one contractor must have a principal contractor? And that by law, the principal contractor has specific health and safety responsibilities?
In this blog, we’ll define the role of the principal contractor and go through their key responsibilities under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). We’ll also discuss best practices for principal contractors, as well as the importance of compliance.
Related reading: “What is a contractor?”
What Is A Principal Contractor?
The role of the principal contractor is defined by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as “the contractor with control over the construction phase of a project involving more than one contractor. They are appointed in writing by the client (commercial or domestic) to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during this phase.”
A client must appoint a principal contractor in writing for any project that involves more than one contractor. It’s best practice to appoint a principal contractor before the construction phase of a project begins. This is so that the principal contractor can plan the work and liaise with both the client and the principal designer to identify any health and safety risks.
A principal contractor must be able to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills, experience and knowledge (SKE) to carry out the task to which they are appointed. SKE can be demonstrated by the membership in professional bodies and by references from previous construction work.
An organisation can also be appointed as the principal contractor. In this case, the organisation must demonstrate that it has the organisational capability to fulfil the role.
According to HSE, organisational capability can be demonstrated by membership of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP). You can gain membership to an SSIP scheme through CHAS Standard.
CDM 2015 distinguishes between domestic and commercial clients. A domestic client is one that commissions construction work to be carried out on their home, whereas a commercial client is one that commissions construction work as part of a business.
Commercial clients have specific responsibilities under CDM 2015, but in the case of domestic clients, these responsibilities pass in full to the contractor (for single-contractor projects) or the principal contractor in cases where more than one contractor has been engaged.
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What Are The Key Principal Contractor Responsibilities?
The key responsibilities of the principal contractor are laid out in CDM 2015. There are three broad areas that the principal contractor is responsible for, which are as follows:
- health and safety,
- planning and managing the construction phase of the project,
- worker training and welfare.
A principal contractor is responsible for managing health and safety throughout the construction phase of the project. This means that they must plan measures to control any health and safety risks to anyone affected by the work, including the public. The principal contractor is also responsible for securing the site against unauthorised access.
To effectively manage health and safety risks, the principal contractor must liaise with both the client and the principal designer so that information is shared appropriately between parties. The principal contractor should also liaise with the principal designer to share any information relevant to the pre-construction phase.
In addition to health and safety, the principal contractor is responsible for planning and managing the construction phase of the project. As part of this responsibility, the principal contractor should prepare a written construction phase plan before the construction phase begins. The principal contractor is then responsible for implementing that plan and reviewing it on an ongoing basis. They may also need to make revisions to the plan as work progresses.
The principal contractor is also responsible for communicating health and safety information to workers, as well as providing worker training and welfare facilities. Workers should be consulted on their health, safety and welfare. Suitable welfare facilities should be provided and maintained throughout the construction phase of the project.
The principal contractor should check that anyone they have appointed has the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to safely carry out their work. Where an organisation has been appointed, the principal contractor should check that the organisation has the proper organisational capability to fulfil its obligations.
Lastly, the principal contractor must ensure that all workers have been inducted to the site and are provided with the appropriate training and relevant information.
You can see a full list of the responsibilities of a principal contractor on the HSE site.
What Does Best Practice Look Like For A Principal Contractor?
By following best practices, principal contractors can fulfil their responsibilities and contribute to the safe completion of a construction project.
The principal contractor must conduct (or appoint someone to conduct) a risk assessment, both before the construction phase begins and during the construction phase itself. A risk assessment is not only a legal requirement, but it also allows the principal contractor to identify, evaluate and mitigate potential hazards. The findings of the risk assessment can be documented and clearly communicated to workers.
Access your free risk assessment template here.
In addition to risk assessments, it is best practice for the principal contractor to produce method statements for specific high-risk or complex activities. A method statement is a step-by-step set of instructions which describes how a task can be safely completed. Although not a legal requirement, clients and regulators may request method statements, and they can form part of a body of evidence that demonstrates compliance with health and safety regulations.
Access your free method statement template here.
You can also easily create risk assessments and method statements online using CHAS Rams. Use this link to start your one month FREE trial of CHAS Rams.
The Importance Of Compliance For Principal Contractors (Even On Small Building Sites)
As a principal contractor, it’s important to fulfil your responsibilities — and there are serious potential consequences for failing to do so. In a worst-case scenario, poor health and safety planning could lead to a serious accident on site.
Because construction is such a dangerous sector, there are serious legal consequences for those that fail to keep people safe. Failing to comply with your legal requirements under CDM 2015 is a criminal offence that is punishable by both unlimited fines and imprisonment.
It’s important to remember that CDM 2015 applies to every single construction project, not just the bigger ones. In fact, according to Ohutu, 75% of accidents in construction occur on small building sites. CDM 2015 was created specifically to address the high rate of accidents on small building sites.
Summary: The Key Principal Contractor Responsibilities
In conclusion, every construction project that has more than one contractor must have an appointed principal contractor; and the principal contractor has specific legal responsibilities under CDM 2015. It’s important for the health and safety of the people affected by the project that the principal contractor understands and implements their responsibilities.
If you are a contractor or a principal contractor and you’d like to learn more about your responsibilities under CDM 2015, you can talk to a member of our award-winning team by calling 0345 521 9111.
