Introduction to Fire Safety Management

➤ Allowing suffi cient time within the project for design
and construction work to be carried out safely and
properly
➤ Ensuring that construction work on a project only
starts when there is a suitably developed construction
phase health and safety plan
➤ Making the health and safety fi le available for any
future construction work and ensuring that it is kept
up to date and handed over to the new owner when
a sale takes place.
The client may appoint another person to act as their
agent, provided that the person is competent to carry out
the duties of the client on their behalf. Where an agent is
appointed, the client must ensure that HSE is notifi ed of
the appointment and the notifi cation must be supported
by a written declaration with the following information:
➤ Name of declared client and statement signed by or
on behalf of the declared client that they will act as
client for the duration of the project
➤ The address where documents may be served on
that person
➤ The address of the construction site to which the
appointment relates.
Coordinator functions
The coordinator is assigned functions and not responsibilities
(as these rest with the client), the key proportion
of which is to coordinate health and safety arrangements
prior to the project starting, where changes are required
and post-construction works by preparing the health
and safety fi le.
The coordinator functions include:
➤ Advising and assisting the client in undertaking the
measures needed to comply with the regulations
including determining the adequacy of the resources
➤ Notifying the HSE of the construction project where
applicable
➤ Advising on the suitability and compatibility of
designs and on any need for modifi cation
➤ Coordinating design work, planning and other
preparation
➤ Liaising with the principal contractor in relation to
any design or change to a design requiring a review
of the construction phase plan, during the construction
phase
➤ Providing relevant health and safety information to
every person designing the structure, the principal
contractor; and every contractor who has been or is
likely to be appointed by the client
➤ Preparing, where none exists, and otherwise reviewing
and updating the health and safety fi le.
Summary of key legal requirements
Designer duties
Designers play a key role in construction projects –
although contractors have to manage risks on site,
designers can often eliminate or reduce them at source.
The specifi c duties of the designer are to:
➤ Advise clients of their duties
➤ Take positive account of health and safety hazards
during design considerations
➤ Apply the principles of prevention and protection
during the design phase to eliminate, reduce or control
hazards
➤ Consider measures that will protect all workers if
neither avoidance nor reduction to a safe level is
possible
➤ Make health and safety information available regarding
risks that cannot be designed out
➤ Cooperate with the coordinator and any other
designers involved.
Principal contractor duties
The key duties of the principal contractor are to:
➤ Plan, manage and monitor health and safety during
the construction phase of the project
➤ Ensure that Schedule 2 is complied with (see below)
➤ Coordinate the activities of all contractors in terms
of legal requirements
➤ Ensure that every contractor complies with their
duties under other health and safety legislation
➤ Draw up health and safety site rules
➤ Ensure cooperation between contractors and their
employees to enable them to comply with their
statutory duties
➤ Ensure that every contractor and employee complies
with the construction phase plan
➤ Ensure that only authorised people are allowed on
the construction site during the project
➤ Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all
persons concerned with the project are suitably
trained and kept informed of the health and safety
requirements
➤ Ensure a copy of the notifi cation of the project is
displayed on site
➤ Provide information to the coordinator, as necessary,
for inclusion in the construction phase fi le
➤ Provide suitable induction training and further information
and training as required
➤ Establish a consultation process with contractors
working on site.
15.14.3 Health and safety fi le
The coordinator is responsible for ensuring that a health
and safety fi le is compiled and handed to the client on
completion of the project. The client must ensure that
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