Hi David The PC is responsible for all site health, safety and welfare and all the baggage which goes with it. The client's contractors should be treated the same as any other sub-contractor, no more, no less. However I am aware the client often believes their appointed contractors get special privileges and are outside the PC's remit. This is where the PC needs to be firm and to apply consistency. The client also has duties to ensure the PC, PD, etc are carrying out those duties pursuant to CDM 2015. Ray

Not quite sure what you mean by being "liable" for a RIDDOR, the responsibility for reporting RIDDORs would not change, so for instance the Principal Contractor would report the overturning of any lifting equipmnt on a CDM site regardless of whether it was being operated by a contractor or some one appointed by the client, where as the employer would report any injuries to some one in their employ, and alert the PC to the fact of the event. The PC is responsible for the H&S for anyone on the CDM but your are right this does not include the close supervision of contractors or others

Apolagies Ray I mean would the RIDDOR have an infulence on the PC stats or the contractors stats if the it was down to negligence by the contractor by not following a safe system of work for example? Thanks

such areas are not always easy to handle irrespective of what the law says as many clients do their own thing irrespective e.g. clients forcing their 'favourite companies' onto PC's, and know that they hold the purse strings and where a PC causes ripples, even ripples that are really good for everybody, clients can make them pay so handle all parties with care and put all things in writing

Hi All, I have been nominated as the principal contractor for an office refurb. We have employed a principal designer as well. I am an employee for the company and I would appreciate any info you can give me as I am anxious to ensure that I get this right. I am IOSH trained and hoping that will help me. The HSC website says the PC must plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, construction work is carried out without risks to health or safety. I imagine I must insist on getting the RAMS from each contractor? Do I need to create risk assessments for each contractor for each phase of the refurb? Any info you can give me is very much appreciated. Many thanks Franny

Firstly the employer is responsible for reporting under RIDDOR no matter who appoints who and who is responsible for what. The second point re PC, all sub contactors should produce and provide for review their RAMS. You may be advised to make a programme with all contractors activities in a staged form and issue that to every subby. The CPP is to be made up and revised as the project progresses and don't forget the health and safety file that should be developed by receiving relevant information from all subbys and suppliers/installers. The principal designer must provide a Pre construction information document.