Contractors - What they need to do

Contractors are likely to take the following role/s with the assigned responsibilities:

1. Designers are organisations (or individuals), who prepare or modify designs for a building, product or system relating to construction work or arrange for or instruct others to do so.

   Summary of Main Responsibilities

   When preparing or modifying designs, to eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may arise during:

   • Construction.
   • The maintenance and use of a structure once it is built.
   • Take account of pre-construction information and provide information to assist others.
   • Not start work until they are satisfied that a Client is aware of their duties..

    

1. Contractors are organisations (or individuals)who directly employ or engage with construction workers or manage construction work.

   Summary of Main Responsibilities

   • Plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control so that it is carried out without risks to health and safety. Cooperate and coordinate their activities with others in the project team- in particular, comply with directions given to them by the Principal Designer or Principal Contractor. For single-Contractor projects, prepare a Construction Phase Plan.
   • Not start work until steps have been taken to prevent unauthorised access to areas where construction work is taking place.
   • Take reasonable practicable steps to ensure suitable welfare is in place for their workers.
   • Not start work until they are satisfied that a Client is aware of their duties.

    

For projects involving more than one Contractor:

1. Principal Designers are organisations (or individuals) in control of the pre-construction phase where a project involves more than one Contractor. Appointed by the Client or if not appointed, the role is undertaken by the Client.

   Summary of Main Responsibilities

   Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase of a project. This includes:

   • Helping and advising the Client in brining together the pre-construction information.
   • foreseeable risks.
   • Ensuring Designers carry out their duties.

   Prepare and provide relevant information to other dutyholders, including the Principal Contractor to help them plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the construction phase.

2. Principal Contractors are organisations (or individuals) in control of the construction phase where the project involves more than one Contractor.
   Appointed by the Client or if not appointed, the role is undertaken by the Client.

   Summary of Main Responsibilities

   Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the construction phase of a project. This includes:

   • Liaising with the Client and Principal Designers.
   • Preparing the Construction Phase Plan.
   • Organising cooperation between Contractors and coordinating their work.

   Ensure:

   • Suitable site inductions are provided.
   • Reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorised access.
   • Workers are consulted and engaged in securing their health and safety.
   • Provide suitable welfare arrangements.

Generally, there are 4 categories of Contractor in events 1) those appointed directly by the organiser e.g. the shell scheme Contractor, 2) those appointed directly by a space only exhibitor to work within their plot e.g. the space only stand Contractor, 3) those appointed directly by the venue who have sole rights to provide a specific service within the venue e.g. mains electrical Contractor and 4) sub-Contractors subsequently appointed by any of those listed in 1, 2 or 3. In all cases the Contractor functions as either Designer/Principal Designer (pre-site) and/or Contractor/Principal Contractor (onsite).

Anyone appointing Designers (including Principal Designers), Contractors (including Principal Contractors) or workers must ensure that those appointed have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience.

When appointing Contractors and/or workers consideration should be given by those making the appointment to ensure that those who they are looking to appoint have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience

A project is notifiable to the relevant enforcing authority if the construction work is scheduled to:

• Last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project - OR
• Exceed 500 person days.

A project can be notified via the electronic F10 notification form on the HSE website. The requirements of CDM 2015 apply whether or not the project is notifiable. It is the Client’s responsibility to notify and subsequently display the notice however Clients can request someone else, such as the Principal Contractor, do either of these activities on their behalf.

Each Contractor should have an understanding of the number of personnel that they will require onsite during the construction phase. This information may be requested by the organiser and/or the space only exhibitor. This is because whilst it is very unlikely that a single space only stand will exceed either of the trigger points for notification, if a space only exhibitor suspects that the construction and deconstruction of their stand will do so then arrangements should be made for the project to be notified and the notice displayed.

This document sets out the arrangements for securing health and safety during the construction period. The arrangements include site rules taking into account the activities that will be taking place during the construction period. For projects involving more than one Contractor a Principal Contractor is responsible for the Construction Phase Plan and site rules whereas for single Contractor projects this responsibility sits with a Contractor. (See also Induction and Site Rules)

Where construction activities are taking place and if taking the role of Principal Contractor or being the single Contractor for a project the Contractor will be required to produce a Construction Phase Plan.

A suitable site induction must be provided to any personnel requiring access to the construction site. The induction must be site specific, highlight any particular risks and include information on the emergency procedures. Where there is more than one Contractor involved in a project the responsibility for ensuring an induction is provided rests with the Principal Contractor. (See also Construction Phase Plan)

All Contractors, whether appointed by the organiser, exhibitor or venue, who require access to the construction site must receive a site specific induction. Furthermore, space only stand builder’s allocated the role of Principal Contractor for a specific exhibitor’s space only stand will be responsible for providing, if relevant, a site specific induction for their space only plot for any personnel who requires access during the construction phase. All Contractors, whether appointed by the organiser, exhibitor or venue, who require access to the construction site must receive information regarding the site rules. Furthermore, space only stand builders allocated the role of Principal Contractor for a specific exhibitor’s space only stand will be responsible for producing the Construction Phase Plan and any specific site rules for the stand. When developing the site rules for the plot attention should be given to any site rules communicated by the organiser. It may be the case that the stand builder simply adopts the organiser’s standard site rules and adds any of their own stand specific rules. The site rules for both the event as a whole and any specifically for the space only plot must be communicated to all personnel requiring access to the space only plot during the construction phase.

Workers must be provided with suitable welfare facilities throughout the construction phase. Welfare facilities include, but are not limited to, drinking water, toilets, catering facilities and rest areas. Information regarding the location of the welfare facilitates onsite should be disseminated.

It is likely that the venue will provide the welfare facilities and information regarding the available provision should be disseminated. Contractors are responsible for sharing any relevant information that they receive to any personnel that they invite onsite during the construction phase.

Reasonable steps must be taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to areas where construction work is due to take place. All Contractors, whether appointed by the organiser, exhibitor or venue, who require access to the construction site must be authorised in order to gain site access. The organiser will determine the criteria and process for obtaining authorisation. Furthermore, space only stand builder’s assigned the role of Principal Contractor for a specific exhibitor’s space only stand will be responsible for implementing reasonable steps to prevent access by unauthorised persons to their plot during the construction phase.