Posted By Rob Malcolm Can anyone tell me if it is acceptable to format a generic H&S file/plan by a principle contractor/planning supervisor so that it can be left on site at all times for the client to see if asked. Please take into consideration that the tasks performed by the principle contractor are identical every time & for the same contractor on each occasion. The only thing that changes is the site address along with a few localized environmental issues i.e. the task is conducted in close proximity to a school, river, highway etc. Many thanks Rob

Posted By Steve Butler Hi Rob As in CDM Reg15(4) - a H&S Plan should be prepared for each project. If we do the generic outline and build on each plan at each site then we have done what can be considered reasonable - my argument anyway. Those 'generic' H&S plans on project sites must be developed with relevant info such as project timescale, site specific risk issues, environmental factors, welfare arrrangments, etc (H&S File would not be on-site but passed over at handover phase). Sub Contract workforce changes from phase to phase too as do welfare provisions. Preperation of H&S Plans for CDM is rather difficult to apply to this sector without significant time/effort/manpower. How many other utilities organisations hold a relevant/dated and comprehensive H&S Plan on any site????? Regards, Steve B

Posted By Robert K Lewis Rob Just to keep correcting the problem first - It is princiPAL contractor. The problem I often find is that many Planning Supervisors seem unable to cope with a basic precedent plan which has the relevant areas modified for the particular site. Steve has identified these areas and I believe that they can be readily dealt with in the context of an aspect and impact assessment for each area. The information on site specific controls would then be strengthened in the method statements. If you are your own PS this problem disappears. The H&S file is I believe always one for the PS to produce. If you are the PS then the information can be constructed in such a way as to be simply appended with any local variation and supplied. If you are not the PS and have not been specifically contracted to produce the H&S file pass the information to the PS and let her/him worry about how to construct and distribute it. The current regulations do not place any duty on the PC to create the file this has to be done via a contract clause. Bob

Posted By Mal Shiels Hi all, thought it might be useful for me to add my bit in here, i act as planning supervisor on many projects and work closely with many principal contractors. We have a standard format and layout for the pre construction health and safety plans. About 35% of the plan is generic from project to project with the rest consisting of site and project specific information. I comment on many principal contractors construction phase health and safety plans, there is no problem with a generic layout or format with some generic information in there (contractors committment to h&s for example). However the major part of this plan should be site and project specific. It is important to actually embrace the ethos of what CDM is about, this is, not mountains of paperwork, it is working together, for smaller projects the plan will probably be a few pages, with the plan likely to grow with the more complex projects. With regard to the health and safty file, any planning supervisor worth their salt introduces this topic at pre start meetings and gets agreement on who will do what. Rob, if you want you can e-mail me and we can chat, even if its only to bounce ideas around, regards