THE HEALTH & SAFETY FILE / O&M MANUALS

Layout, format and content                                                                                                   

The O&M manual(s) will form an ancillary document to the Health and Safety Files for the Project, and all information will need to be made available to the Principal Designer as soon as practically possible, prior to practical completion.

The Principal Contractor will be required to ensure that Contractor information is appropriate to Contractors’ work packages and the safe use, operation and maintenance of any and all products and equipment they have used/installed, before handing it over to the Principal Designer.

Information should be provided under an easy navigable index to cross reference Health and Safety File information with any pertinent supporting Operation and Maintenance information.

The layout and content of the Health and Safety File will be as detailed in the CDM 2015 and will include the following:

1. A brief description of the work carried out;
2. Any residual hazards and how they need to be safely managed and controlled;
3. Any key structural principals incorporated in the design (i.e. bracing, sources of substantial stored energy and safe workloads for floors and roofs, etc.);
4. Any hazards associated with the materials used;
5. The location and markings of significant services, including fire-fighting services;
6. Full contact details of contractors used including a breakdown of the work they performed;
7. Full contact details of all suppliers used including materials supplied;
8. Fire strategy and compartmentation information/drawings;
9. ‘As built’ drawings and the plans used and produced throughout the construction process, along with design criteria and shall include as a minimum:
   1. A site plan(s) showing the actual position and route of all drainage and services;
   2. Architectural, structural and specialist drawings and calculations for all structures; and
   3. Plans to show the layout of all utilities and services.

10. General details of the construction methods and materials used including:
    1. Details (specific and common) relating to the structure and materials showing method of construction, fixings, schedules of ironmongery, sanitary ware etc;
    2. Details relating to health and safety that may affect future structural alteration works;
    3. Details relating to health and safety that may affect future demolition or dismantling works;
    4. Details relating to health and safety that may affect cleaning and maintenance works; and
    5. COSHH statements for materials that may affect health and safety in any of the above (items a-d);
11. Detail of the structure’s equipment and maintenance facilities;
12. Access strategy including procedures and requirements for the safe maintenance of the  structure;
13. Manuals produced by specialist contractors and suppliers which outline operation, maintenance and service procedures, along with schedules for all plant and equipment installed as part of the construction of the structure, including manufacturers and/or suppliers guarantees, warrantees etc.;
14. Details of the location and nature of utilities and services including emergency lighting and firefighting systems including:
    1. As installed drawings and schedules for;

Electrical power and lighting;                         

Security alarms;                                             

Mechanical;               

Fire alarms;

Telephones; and

Any other relevant services.

2. Complete copies of electrical test certificates;
3. Complete copies of gas test certificates;
4. Complete copies of benchmark logbooks;
5. Details relating to health and safety during future alterations to services;
6. Details relating to health and safety during future demolition and dismantling of services; and
7. Details relating to the operation and maintenance for plant, equipment and services;

This list is indicative of the type of information that is required to be entered into the Health and Safety File.

Demolition Projects:

Due to the nature of demolition works, the Principal Contractor will not be required to provide full Health and Safety File information to the Principal Designer at the end of the works.

The Principal Contractor will be required to provide the following:

• An as-demolished site plan;
• Details of any services located, moved or remaining live;