The Principal Designer Role and Duties: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to construction projects, safety is a top priority.

This is where the role of a Principal Designer (PD) comes into play. A PD is responsible for ensuring that a construction project is safe for workers, occupants, and the general public. 

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the role and duties of a Principal Designer.

 

What is a Principal Designer?

A Principal Designer is a key member of the construction project team, appointed by the client in projects involving more than one contractor.

The PD's primary responsibility is to plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of the project. 

They are also responsible for ensuring that the project is designed, built, and maintained in compliance with health and safety regulations.

The role of a Principal Designer is crucial in ensuring that the project is carried out safely, and that risks are minimized.

They work closely with the client, contractors, and other members of the project team to ensure that health and safety are at the forefront of every decision made.

 

Duties of a Principal Designer

The duties of a PD can vary depending on the size, complexity, and nature of the construction project. However, their primary duties include:

 

  1. Planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of the project.
  2. Identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks to health and safety during the project.
  3. Ensuring that all design work is carried out in a way that avoids risks to health and safety.
  4. Ensuring that the design work complies with health and safety regulations.
  5. Providing information to the Principal Contractor (PC) to help them plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the construction phase.
  6. Coordinating the health and safety aspects of the design work with those of the construction phase.
  7. Preparing and providing relevant health and safety information to those who need it, including the PC, contractors, and workers.
  8. Liaising with the client, the PC, and other members of the project team regarding health and safety matters.
  9. Reviewing and revising the health and safety file, which contains important information about the project's health and safety aspects.
  10. Ensuring that the health and safety file is kept up-to-date and readily available to those who need it.

The duties of a Principal Designer are essential in ensuring that the construction project is carried out safely and that risks are minimized.

 

Who can be a Principal Designer?

According to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), a Principal Designer must be a person or a company with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out the role. They must also have the authority to make decisions about health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of the project.

A PD can be an individual or a team of professionals, such as an architectural firm or an engineering consultancy. However, they must be competent and have experience in managing health and safety matters in the construction industry.

 

Conclusion

The role of a Principal Designer is critical in ensuring that construction projects are carried out safely and that risks are minimized. Their duties involve planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of the project.

A Principal Designer must be competent and have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out the role. They must also have the authority to make decisions about health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of the project.

By appointing a Principal Designer, clients can ensure that their construction project is carried out safely, and that risks are minimized. 

 

Natalie Hewitt BA(Hons) BArch(Hons) ARB RIBA CEO & Architect

 

How we can help…

If you'd like professional help and expertise with the principal designer role on your project we'd love to hear from you.

To get in touch just give us a call on 01538 711777 or Email hello@hc-services.uk

Or of you prefer just use our contact form https://hc-services.uk/contact/

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

When Do CDM Regulations Apply?

CDM Regulations…when do they actually apply?

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, commonly known as CDM regulations, are a set of health and safety regulations that apply to almost all construction projects in the UK. 

The regulations aim to ensure that construction work is carried out safely, with the welfare of workers and members of the public being given top priority.

 

Do CDM regulations apply to all projects?

CDM regulations apply to all construction projects in the UK, regardless of the size or type of the project. This includes everything from small-scale home improvements to large-scale commercial developments. 

The regulations apply to any person or organisation involved in the construction project, including clients, designers, contractors, and workers.

 

What are the client's duties?

Under the CDM regulations, the client has a number of key duties, including appointing competent designers and contractors, ensuring that a suitable and sufficient construction phase plan is in place, and ensuring that all parties have the necessary information and instruction to carry out their duties safely.

 

What are the designers and contractors duties?

Designers and contractors also have a range of duties under the regulations, including ensuring that the project is designed and constructed in a way that is safe and healthy, and providing information and instruction to workers and other duty holders.

 

What are the principal designer and principal contractors duties?

The CDM regulations also require the appointment of a principal designer and a principal contractor on all projects where there is more than one contractor involved. 

The principal designer is responsible for coordinating the health and safety aspects of the design work, while the principal contractor is responsible for coordinating the health and safety aspects of the construction work.

 

Do CDM regulations apply throughout the life of a project?

It is important to note that the CDM regulations apply throughout the life of the project, from the initial planning and design stages, through to the construction and completion of the project. 

This means that all parties involved in the project must take their duties and responsibilities seriously throughout the entire process.

 

In summary

The CDM regulations apply to all construction projects in the UK, regardless of size or type, and apply to all parties involved in the project, including clients, designers, contractors, and workers. 

The regulations aim to ensure that construction work is carried out safely, with the welfare of workers and members of the public being given top priority.

Kate Hewitt - Project Manager

 

How we can help…

If you'd like help understanding the CDM regulations and how they are applicable to your project we’d love to help.

To get in touch just give us a call on 01538 711777 or Email hello@hc-services.uk

Or of you prefer just use our contact form https://hc-services.uk/contact/

See our CDM process here https://hc-services.uk/cdm-health-safety/

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

Health And Safety File - Roles & Responsibilities

What is a CDM Health and Safety file?

A health and safety file must be produced in accordance with the 2015 Construction (Design & Management) Regulations. 

The health & safety file is a repository of details for the client, or end user, about a building or structure that focuses on health and safety.

Its contents will inform those in charge of the building of the main health and safety risks that must be addressed during any maintenance, repair, cleaning, demolition, and construction work. 

By lowering the cost of future work, the CDM health and safety file can offer the client significant advantages. 

In accordance with the CDM Regulations, it is a crucial component of the pre-construction data that the client must offer for upcoming projects. Therefore, after any pertinent work, surveys, etc., the file should be kept current.

 

When Is It Necessary To Have The File?

Only projects involving multiple contractors are required to have a CDM health and safety file. 

It must include pertinent information about the project that will be taken into account when building work is done on the structure after the current project is finished. 

Only the data necessary for planning and carrying out future work safely and without health risks should be included.

 

Who Creates or Puts Together The File?

The file must be created by the principal designer, who must also review, update, and revise it as the project moves forward.  

The finished file must be given to the client to keep if the principal designer's appointment lasts until the project is finished. 

The file must be turned over to the principal contractor in the event that the principal designer's appointment expires before the project is finished.

 After that, it is the principal contractor's responsibility to review, amend, and revise it before delivering it to the client.

 

CDM Health & Safety File Contents (What should be included)

The file is an important document required by the CDM regulations. All CDM duty holders are required to provide information for the file, and it's critical that everyone is aware of what should be included. 

Here's a summary of the contents:

 

Clients: The client is responsible for providing any pertinent data that will be included in the health and safety file. 

Upon receiving the final health and safety file from the principal designer/principal contractor, the client is required to make it available for inspection upon request at the end of the project.

 

Designers: Before a project is finished, all designers must give the principal designer information about foreseeable health and safety risks as well as risks that still exist that are relevant to future cleaning, maintenance, construction, and demolition work.

 

Principal Designer: As the project moves forward, the principal designer is responsible for preparing, reviewing, amending, or adding to the file. At the project's conclusion, the principal designer must provide the client with the finalised document.

 

Principal Contractor: The principal contractor is in charge of making sure that pertinent health and safety data is compiled from designated sub-contractors and prepared for inclusion in the file. 

In the event that the principal designer leaves the project before it is finished, the principal contractor is in charge of finishing the file and delivering it to the client or end user.

 

Contractors: Contractors are in charge of making sure that any information required by the principal contractor is released as soon as possible and added to the file.

 

Lisa Carr - Project Manager

 

Can we Help? 

If you'd like help organising and compiling the health and safety file for your project or if you can't afford the time to do it yourself please get in touch here CDM Health & Safety

Give us a call 01538 711777

Or Email hello@hc-services.uk

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Is The Role Of A Contract Administrator?

What Does A Contract Administrator Do?

 

Basically the role of a contract administrator (CA) is to manage contracts made between building contractors, employers, and clients.

 

Their responsibility is to administer construction contracts, whereby they may act as project managers , engineers, consultants, or client representatives.

 

This includes making sure that the other party has received payment for services rendered as well as providing any necessary assistance to make sure the work is completed. 

Responsibilities of the contracts administrator


The CA will ordinarily have a range of responsibilities and duties. 

In broad terms, these responsibilities and duties will include ensuring the contractual procedure provided for is followed and managing the day-to-day running of the contract. 


The scope of the responsibilities and duties resting with the contract administrator will vary depending on the contract between the parties. 

 

Contract administrator example


An example of this is that under the JCT form of contract, the CA may be required to determine when practical completion is achieved, approve the quality of materials to be used or provide instructions if there are discrepancies in the documentation. 


Under the NEC form of contract, he or she is the project manager, and the role therefore extends to proactively managing the project. 

 

Can Anyone Be A Contract Administrator?


The position may be undertaken by a range of individuals, these include architects, engineers, building surveyors, quantity surveyors, or any agent of the employer. 

 
The role of the CA starts at the contract award stage and continues throughout the life of the contract. 


The role does not technically commence until a building contract is in place between the employer and the contractor. 


However, there may be an implied requirement for the contract administrator to perform pre-contract services, which will be covered by a formal or informal arrangement with the employer.


The contract administrator’s role will usually be determined by the method of procurement, while the contract administrator’s duties will be derived from the form of building contract.


The professional appointment for the CA will usually set out the 'standard of care' to be exercised by the CA.


Final Thoughts…


The role of the contracts administrator can add real value to a construction project—ensuring that the construction contract is administered fairly and effectively. 


Selecting an experienced CA and ensuring that roles are clearly defined from the start are the keys to a successful contract administrator relationship. 

I hope that now the answer to the question What Does a Contract Administrator do is much clearer? 

 

Natalie Hewitt: BA(Hons) BArch(Hons) ARB RIBA CEO & Architect

 

To get in touch please click HCS Contact Us

Call 01538 711777

Email hello@hc-services.uk

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

 

Do You Need A Construction Phase Plan?

A Construction Phase Plan Outline.

The phrase "construction phase plan" (CPP) is likely to be used if you work in the construction industry or take on your first construction project.

However, what exactly is a construction phase plan? When is it required, and who writes it?

What Exactly Is A Construction Phase Plan?

A CPP is a health and safety document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations - often referred to as CDM.

Every construction project, whether it is commercial or residential, regardless of size or duration, is subject to the CDM Regulations.

The construction phase plan, also known as the CPP or the construction phase health and safety plan, is a record needed by the CDM regulations on every project.

'Yes', a construction phase plan is necessary for every construction project.

The CPP is a health and safety management document for the project.  It outlines the strategy for completing the work safely. It will contain information about the project, the kind of work, the team, and emergency plans.

The contents of the plan need to be specific to the project. Primarily because every construction project is different. For example, there’s different teams, different locations, and different types of work to be considered.

How you’ll handle health and safety issues on your site should be covered in detail in your construction phase plan.

Question Time:

Ask yourself these questions. How will you deal with the risks and hazards involved? How are you going to manage the contractors? How will you respond to particular difficulties like location limitations or uncommon design elements?

Although it's a good idea to refer to your standard operating procedures, including them all in your construction phase plan is usually not a good idea because it could prevent people from seeing the crucial information they actually need to know.

Make sure your construction phase plan is more than just a list of risk assessments and method statements for various project-related tasks and activities. These are separate documents that are necessary for every project contractor.

 

A List Of Key Headings you will need

 

Description of The Project

 

You will describe the project's details and its scope in the description. Along with the project management team (client, primary designer(s), designers, principal contractor, and other consultants), you should also list subcontractors and important suppliers.

In summary:

Project Management

As a health and safety management document, the construction phase plan should include an extensive section outlining the management plans for the work.

The project's management structure should be described in depth, including the site manager and any individuals responsible for health and safety. Additionally, you must make plans for management practices, including site inductions, training, security, welfare, accident management, and coordination between the relevant parties.

Along with the site rules and your fire and emergency protocols, you will also include information on the project's safety goals and objectives.

In Summary:

Arrangements For Managing Construction Health Risks

For obvious reasons, health risks should be identified and controlled.

This section of the construction phase plan details how you will manage health risks throughout the project.

Take into account any risks that could endanger the health of workers, guests, or the general public. Health hazards like asbestos, contaminated ground, radiation, and dangerous substances might be present.

In this part, you can also discuss things like manual labour, noise, dust, and vibration exposure.

In Summary:

Arrangements For Controlling Safety Risks

You must include more specific information about any substantial safety risks in this section and give any actions that could increase the possibility of accidents occurring on the project more thought.

Determine safety concerns and establish a plan to effectively manage them. This will contain plans for handling services, structures, excavations, lifting activities, and any on-site machinery or equipment.

Routes for deliveries and traffic, the intended storage of products, and potential risks to the general public should all be taken into consideration.

Summary:

The Health & Safety File

There is a different document required under CDM, which is the health and safety file. It is not necessary until the end of the project, in contrast to the construction phase plan. Nevertheless, data for the file should be gathered during the project.

Describe the procedures used to acquire data for the health and safety file in this section. Additionally, you can provide the file's suggested structure and the required information's format.

Summary:

In conclusion, all construction projects, no matter the size or duration, are legally required to have a Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan.

Tel: 01538 711777 Email: hello@hc-services.uk

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

HSE Top 10 Safety Risks In Construction?

Construction sites can be extremely dangerous environments and pose significant health and safety risks. Reports from the HSE show that the construction sector has the second-highest rate of accidents, incidents, health conditions, and deaths reported. So what are the main hazards to be aware of when working in construction?

Working At Height

Working at height means working in any place where, if precautions are not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

This includes working where you are;

Work at height does not include a slip or a trip on the level, as a fall from height has to involve a fall from one level to a lower level, nor does it include walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building.

Slips, Trips & Falls

Slips, trips and falls are the most common health and safety risks on construction sites that are not effectively managed so that workers can move around the site safely.

Sites should be kept clean and tidy to reduce the risk of someone injuring themselves.

Things to look out for are uneven surfaces, obstacles, trailing cables, wet or slippery surfaces and changes in levels.

Hazardous Substances

We've known for a long time now that asbestos is hazardous to health, which is why it was banned in 1999. But many other substances can cause ill health in the construction industry. These can include;

Exposure to mild steel welding fumes has very recently been classified as carcinogenic, and the Health and Safety Executive has stepped up visits to construction sites to check on how they are controlling dust created.

So, make sure you assess the risks associated with substances and materials before you start your work.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is inevitable in construction due to the nature of the job, but musculoskeletal disorders make up 62% of all reported construction ill health during 2019.

Ensuring that your workers are training in the best manual handling techniques helps take one step closer to reducing this number, but also providing alternative mechanical aids to help with movement of materials etc will help to reduce the number of reports.

Many things can help towards the risks associated with manual handling however the first step is to assess the risks particular to a project.

Fire

Fire is a hazard in any working environment and can have devastating effects. Ensuring you assess all the risks is imperative, think about how a fire could be started and how you will safely evacuate everyone from your site should a fire start.

Are any hot works being carried out, are there combustible materials on-site, and how will you raise the alarm. These are just a couple of questions you should be asking yourself.

Structural Stability

Ensuring your structure is stable is imperative, you should assess the risks and put in control measures to prevent unintentional collapse during alterations, demolition and dismantling. This also includes assessing the risks of collapse of an excavation.

You may look at introducing temporary supports, just remember that these need to be designed by a competent person and monitored throughout use.

Construction Traffic

The law says that you must organise a construction site so that vehicles and pedestrians using site routes can move around safely.

The easiest way to prevent injuries is to segregate vehicles and pedestrians by providing specific entrances for vehicles, creating walkways and crossings for pedestrians and providing barriers between walkways and roadways. There are further control measures that will help, so you should ensure you assess all the risks prior to starting work.

You should also ensure that drivers and pedestrians have a clear sight of their paths through the site.

Reversing vehicles is a major cause of fatal accidents and should always be avoided where possible. One way systems should be implemented or turning circles installed where possible. Where reversing of vehicles is the only option, trained banksmen should be used to aid the reversing.

Electricity

Electrical equipment used on site should be safe and properly maintained. Battery-powered tools are always preferable where possible.

Only in exceptional circumstances should work be carried out on live systems. It should only be carried out by a competent, authorised person. When carrying out works internally, you must ensure that they are planned, managed and monitored to ensure that workers are not exposed to risks from electricity.

Make sure that prior to carrying out any external works, you are aware of any buried services or overhead cables that workers could potentially come into contact with. If these are present, you will need to ensure that controls are put in place.

Demolition

Demolition, dismantling and structural alterations must be carefully planned and carried out in a way that does not pose a risk of injury to people.

Works should always be planned by competent people who have the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work.

If you are responsible for health and safety risks on your site and would like some professional help, give Hewitt&Carr Services a call today.

Tel: 01538 711777

Email: hello@hc-services.uk

Web: https://hc-services.uk/cdm-health-safety/

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

Who Is Responsible For Health And Safety On A Construction Site?

The construction industry has one of the highest rates of accidents and injuries in the UK, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 are in place to ensure that health and safety are planned, managed and monitored prior to works starting and throughout the construction phase. But who is responsible for health and safety on a construction site?

The Principal Contractor is the person or organisation who is carrying out the majority of the work on a construction site and is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of workers and members of the public whilst construction are taking place.

They are responsible for ensuring that relevant documentation is produced detailing how they will manage health and safety on-site, ensuring workers are inducted onto the site and reviewing processes and procedures throughout the construction, amongst other things!

Contractors have a responsibility to assess the processes and procedures that they are responsible for and work with the Principal Contractor to ensure that they are being carried out in the safest possible way whilst working alongside other contractors that may be on site.

Workers also have a responsibility to take steps to ensure not only their own health and safety but that of others around them. They should follow all site rules and any procedures laid down at induction and report any concerns they have on health and safety to the Principal Contractor.

So ultimately, everyone has a responsibility for health and safety on a construction site, and everyone must work together to ensure that accidents and incidents do not occur. Safety at work doesn't happen unless all parties buy into it.

Here at Hewitt&Carr Services, we can help to guide you through the CDM Regulations and provide you with relevant and timely information. Give us a call today to discuss your requirements.

Tel: 01538 711777 Email: hello@hc-services.uk

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

Health & Safety - When To Notify The HSE?

Under Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), your construction project may need to be notified to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Whilst this is a legal requirement under regulations, only certain types of projects need to be notified, which is where it can get confusing!

The CDM Regulations state;

(1) A project is notifiable if the construction work on a construction site is scheduled to -

(a) last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project; or

(b) exceed 500 person days.

How to work out if your project is notifiable

Well, section 1 (a) is fairly easy to understand. Is construction likely to last longer than 30 days, and will there be more than 20 workers on-site at any point during construction? If the answer to these questions is YES, then you will need to complete the notification.

Section 1 (b) takes a little more thinking about however it can be worked out easily. The thing to remember is that any day that someone is working on the build is required as a 'working day' no matter how long that day lasts. It could be 2 hours, it could be 12!

For example, if you have 5 people working on your site for 100 days, this will equate to 500 person days and therefore, the project is notifiable. That works out at a 20-week programme when based on a 5-day working week.

If you decide that your project is not notifiable under either of these regulations, then the form does not need to be completed.

One small word of warning if your project gets delayed for any reason during the construction phase, keep an eye on the number of person days as they can easily creep up to the 500 person days threshold for reporting. If it looks like you are going to exceed this, then you should put the notification in as soon as this becomes apparent.

Who needs to notify the HSE?

Both Commercial and Residential Clients now need to consider whether their project is notifiable and make the application using the F10 Form available on the HSE website.

Here at Hewitt&Carr Services, we can help to guide you through the CDM Regulations and provide you with relevant and timely information. Give us a call today to discuss your requirements.

Tel: 01538 711777

Email: hello@hc-services.uk

For more information visit CDM Health & Safety

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

 

The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) And Domestic Projects

The CDM Regulations 2015 replaced the 2007 version by applying certain duties to the owners, or the ‘Client’, of domestic properties when carrying out building works.  

Who is a domestic Client

Not all residential properties are considered to be Domestic premises, if there is a business registered at the address, then the Client will be considered to be a Commercial Client, and different rules apply.

A Domestic Client is usually someone having work carried out in their own home or that of a family member.

What do you need to do as a Domestic Client

As a Domestic Client, you are not expected to know the CDM Regulations and what is required under them. This is where the person or firm you appoint as the Principal Designer, and Principal Contractor comes in. As a Client, your main duty is to ensure that these roles are appointed accordingly.

A Principal Designer is a person or firm with the relevant experience and knowledge to assess and manage risks that may arise when designing and using a building. Many times, this is not the architect in charge of designing your project as they do not have the relevant health and safety experience.

The Principal Designer should remain a member of the project team throughout the construction phase to ensure that health and safety remain in everybody’s minds throughout the whole project.

The Principal Contractor should be appointed if there is one or more contractors to be on-site, which is the case in most build projects. They will help to manage the health and safety of the project throughout the construction phase.

The overarching reason for the CDM regulations is to ensure the safety of workers, contractors, visitors and members of the public. Construction work is one of the most dangerous industries to work in in the UK. By following the guidance under the CDM Regulations 2015, you will be helping to keep everyone safe while they build your dream home.

Here at Hewitt&Carr Services, we can help to guide you through the CDM Regulations and provide you with relevant and timely information. Give us a call today to discuss your requirements.

Tel: 01538 711777

Email: hello@hc-services.uk

Web: https://hc-services.uk/cdm-health-safety/

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/

 

Health And Safety In Construction

On the 30th of October, the HSE released its annual statistics relating to health and safety in the workplace.

This included statistics on work-related ill-health, workplace injuries, working days lost, enforcement action is taken, and the associated costs to Great Britain.

Some of the key facts are as follows:

Construction remains one of the highest industries for work-related injuries, only second behind agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Britain continues to be one of the safest places to work, but the figures show that there are still areas that can be improved, and these figures only go to show the importance of managing health and safety appropriately.

If you are in the construction industry and you need help with your health and safety, give Hewitt&Carr Services a call today.

Tel: 01538 711777

Email: hello@hc-services.uk

To get more Health and Safety - CDM information click here.

Meet our team?  https://hc-services.uk/about-hcs/