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In this blog we are going to look at what is a Construction Phase Plan. The Construction Phase Plan must set out the arrangements for securing health and safety, including site rules, whilst construction work is taking place.
It must take into account the information the project’s Principal Designer holds such as the pre-construction information and any information obtained from the designers.
During the construction phase, the Principal Contractor must ensure the plan is reviewed, updated and revised so it remains effective.
What should a Construction Phase Plan record?
A Construction Phase Plan should include:
- Health and safety arrangements for the construction phase
- Site rules
The plan must record the arrangements for managing the significant health and safety risks associated with the construction phase of a project. It is the basis for communicating these arrangements to all those involved in the construction phase so it should be easy to understand and be as simple as possible.
The plan should notinclude documents that get in the way of a clear understanding of what is needed to manage the construction phase, such as generic risk assessments, records of how decisions were reached or detailed safety method statements.
Topics to consider for the plan
The plan should include a description of the project such as key dates and details of key members of the project team. It should also feature the control of site specific risks and the management of the work including:
- the health and safety aims for the project
- the site rules
- arrangements to ensure cooperation between project team members and coordination of their work
- arrangements for involving workers
- site induction
- welfare facilities
- fire and emergency procedures
What must the client do?
The client must ensure a Construction Phase Plan is drawn up beforethe construction phase begins. For projects involving more than one contractor, the Principal Contractor is responsible for drawing up the plan or for making arrangements for it to be drawn up. For single Contractor projects, it is the Contractor who is responsible for ensuring that the plan is drawn up.
The client must ensure the Principal Contractor – or, where relevant, the contractor – has all the available relevant information needed to draw up the plan.
The client must ensure the plan adequately addresses the arrangements for managing the risks. They must also make sure the Principal Contractor – or contractor – regularly reviews and revises the plan to ensure the plan takes account of any changes that occur as construction progresses.
What must the Principal Designer do?
The Principal Designer must help the Principal Contractor to prepare the Construction Phase Plan by providing any relevant information they hold. This includes the pre-construction information, information from the designers about risks they have been unable to eliminate during the design process and the steps they have taken to reduce or control those risks.
They must continue to liaise with the Principal Contractor as the construction phase progresses.
What must the Principal Contractor do?
For projects involving more than one contractor, the Principal Contractor must take the lead in preparing, reviewing, updating and revising the Construction Phase Plan. They must draw up the plan or make arrangements for it to be drawn up during the Pre-Construction Phase, beforethe construction site is set up.
Where the plan includes site rules, the rules should cover topics such as personal protective equipment, parking, use of radios and mobile phones, smoking, restricted areas, hot works and emergency arrangements. The rules should be clear and easily understandable. They should be brought to the attention of everyone on-site who should be expected to follow them.
What must the Designer do?
The designer has no specific duty in relation to the Construction Phase Plan. However, they must take all reasonable steps to provide sufficient information about aspects of the design to help the contractors to comply with their duties.
If you need health and safety advice visit https://acornhealthandsafety.co.uk/ or contact us at info@acornhealthandsafety.co.uk or on 01604 930380.
