Are you a contractor?

What you need to do

A contractor is any person who, in the course or furtherance of a business, carries out or manages construction work.

The law requires that contractors:

• Manage your work – plan, manage and monitor your construction work so it is done safely and without risks to health;
• Provide information and training to your workforce – about, for example risks, precautions and rules; and
• co-operate with the principal contractor (PC) to implement the construction phase plan and manage project risks.

What you need to know – two key questions

Question 1: What happens if the client is unaware of his duties?

Answer: A contractor may not carry out construction work unless any client for the project is aware of his duties under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007.

Question 2: Who is required to inform HSE about projects?

Answer: The co-ordinator must inform HSE of notifiable projects (longer than 30 days or 500 person days). A contractor may not carry out construction work unless the notification has been given.

Manage your work

Contractors must plan, manage and monitor their construction work so that health and safety risks are controlled.

In addition, contractors must:

• Set lead times – Inform any sub-contractors of the minimum amount of time which will be allowed for planning and preparation;
• Prevent site access – Check that steps have been taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the site; and
• Arrange welfare facilities – Make sure adequate welfare facilities are in place for your workforce.

• Protecting the public
• Arranging welfare facilities

Provide information and training for your workforce

Contractors are responsible for providing their workforce with the information and training needed to secure workforce health and safety. This includes:

• site induction – where not provided by any principal contractor;
• risks and precautions – information on risks identified in assessments etc. and the necessary precautions;
• site rules; and
• emergency procedures.

co-operate with the principal contractor (PC)

On notifiable projects the client must appoint a PC. Contractors must work with the PC to implement the construction phase plan.

In particular, contractors must:

• appointments – know the names of the project CDM co-ordinator and PC;
• sub-contractors – inform the PC of the names of any subcontractors engaged;
• construction phase plan – access relevant parts of the construction phase plan and make sure work is carried out in accordance and take action to ensure health and safety where it is not possible to comply with the plan;
• notify the principal contractor of any significant finding which requires the plan to be changed;
• provide the principal contractor with any relevant information, e.g. risk assessments that might affect the health or safety of any person or justify a review of the plan;
• directions and rules – comply with any directions given by the PC and any site rules;
• report injuries – inform the PC about any death, injury, condition or dangerous occurrence.