Construction Phase Plan under CDM 2015

Yes. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require a Construction Phase Plan for every construction project, including small projects and those involving only one contractor.

The plan does not need to be unnecessarily lengthy. It should demonstrate that the work has been properly considered and that suitable arrangements are in place to manage the health and safety risks involved.

Construction work should not begin until an appropriate CPP has been prepared.

Where a project involves more than one contractor, the Principal Contractor must draw up the Construction Phase Plan.

On a project involving only one contractor, that contractor is responsible for preparing it.

The commercial client must ensure that a suitable plan has been prepared before the construction phase begins. However, responsibility for developing, implementing and maintaining the plan remains with the Principal Contractor or single contractor undertaking the work.

A specialist adviser can assist with preparing the document, but this does not transfer the contractor’s legal duties. The contractor must understand the plan, apply it on site and ensure it reflects how the work will actually be managed.

The content should be specific to the project and the work being undertaken. Depending on the nature of the project, it may cover:

• The project team and management responsibilities.
• Arrangements for cooperation and coordination between contractors.
• Site inductions, consultation and communication with workers.
• Site security and the prevention of unauthorised access.
• Welfare facilities.
• Site rules.
• Traffic routes, deliveries and pedestrian segregation.
• Fire precautions and emergency procedures.
• First-aid arrangements.
• The management of asbestos, structural instability and existing services.
• Work at height, excavations, lifting operations and temporary works.
• Control of dust, noise, vibration and other health risks.
• Arrangements for inspecting, monitoring and reviewing site standards.
• Specific measures for work involving the particular risks listed in Schedule 3 of CDM 2015.

The plan should take account of the relevant Pre-Construction Information and any significant design or construction risks identified by the project team.

It does not need to reproduce every survey, drawing, risk assessment or method statement. These documents may support the CPP, but the plan should clearly explain the overall arrangements for managing the construction phase.

No. The Construction Phase Plan sets out the overall arrangements for managing health and safety across the project.

Risk assessments and method statements – often referred to collectively as RAMS – usually deal with particular activities or packages of work. They support the CPP but do not normally replace it.

The CPP should explain how relevant RAMS will be prepared, reviewed, communicated and coordinated as the work progresses.

Contractors who need assistance preparing risk assessments and method statements can also access our separate Principal Contractor Support service.

The CPP should be treated as a working document rather than something prepared simply to allow work to start.

The Principal Contractor or contractor should review and revise it as the project develops. Updates may be needed when:

• The design or scope of work changes.
• New contractors or activities are introduced.
• Additional hazards are identified.
• Site arrangements change.
• An incident, inspection or site review identifies weaknesses.
• Existing control measures are no longer suitable.

The plan should remain relevant to the work actually taking place on site.

Not every contractor has the time or confidence to produce a clear, project-specific CPP from scratch. Generic templates can provide a starting point, but they often contain irrelevant material or fail to address the project’s actual risks and management arrangements.

Nautilus can prepare a proportionate Construction Phase Plan for a Principal Contractor or single contractor using the available Pre-Construction Information and details of how the work will be managed.

Our support can include:

• Reviewing the available project and Pre-Construction Information.
• Identifying missing information that may affect construction planning.
• Structuring the project’s health and safety management arrangements.
• Recording relevant site rules and risk-control arrangements.
• Producing a clear CPP tailored to the work.
• Explaining what the contractor needs to review and maintain during construction.

The contractor remains responsible for confirming that the plan accurately reflects its working methods, implementing it on site and keeping it updated.

If you need a practical, project-specific Construction Phase Plan, contact Tim below with brief details of the proposed work. We can discuss what information is available, what may still be required and whether our CPP preparation service is suitable for your project.