The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Duties of the principal contractor

22.—(1) The principal contractor for a project shall—

(a) plan, manage and monitor the construction phase in a way which ensures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health or safety, including facilitating—

(i) co-operation and co-ordination between persons concerned in the project in pursuance of regulations 5 and 6, and

(ii) the application of the general principles of prevention in pursuance of regulation 7;

(b) liaise with the CDM co-ordinator in performing his duties in regulation 20(2)(d) during the construction phase in relation to any design or change to a design;

(c) ensure that welfare facilities sufficient to comply with the requirements of Schedule 3 are provided throughout the construction phase;

(d) where necessary for health and safety, draw up rules which are appropriate to the construction site and the activities on it (referred to in these Regulations as “site rules”);

(e) give reasonable directions to any contractor so far as is necessary to enable the principal contractor to comply with his duties under these Regulations;

(f) ensure that every contractor is informed of the minimum amount of time which will be allowed to him for planning and preparation before he begins construction work;

(g) where necessary, consult a contractor before finalising such part of the construction phase plan as is relevant to the work to be performed by him;

(h) ensure that every contractor is given, before he begins construction work and in sufficient time to enable him to prepare properly for that work, access to such part of the construction phase plan as is relevant to the work to be performed by him;

(i) ensure that every contractor is given, before he begins construction work and in sufficient time to enable him to prepare properly for that work, such further information as he needs—

(i) to comply punctually with the duty under regulation 13(7), and

(ii) to carry out the work to be performed by him without risk, so far as is reasonably practicable, to the health and safety of any person;

(j) identify to each contractor the information relating to the contractor’s activity which is likely to be required by the CDM co-ordinator for inclusion in the health and safety file in pursuance of regulation 20(2)(e) and ensure that such information is promptly provided to the CDM co-ordinator;

(k) ensure that the particulars required to be in the notice given under regulation 21 are displayed in a readable condition in a position where they can be read by any worker engaged in the construction work; and

(l) take reasonable steps to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the construction site.

(2) The principal contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that every worker carrying out the construction work is provided with—

(a) a suitable site induction;

(b) the information and training referred to in regulation 13(4) by a contractor on whom a duty is placed by that regulation; and

(c) any further information and training which he needs for the particular work to be carried out without undue risk to health or safety.