Construction Phase Plan (CPP)​

A construction phase plan (CPP) is a required document for all construction sites and should be proportional to the size or duration of the project. This health & safety plan is necessary under the Construction (Design and Management) regulations 2015 (CDM).

What is a Construction Phase Plan?

The plan is a health and safety monitoring document which contains the arrangements, site rules and specific measures required when work involves risks as per schedule 3 of the Construction (Design & Management) CDM regulations, i.e. working near high voltage power lines.

The information recorded in the CPP should be specific to the work being completed and it should take into consideration observations from the pre-construction information plan.

Do I need a Construction Phase Plan?

Under the Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Regulations 2015 if you are the only contractor or principal contractor, you must create a CPP. The depth of the plan will depend on the size and scale of the project.

Small projects may not require particularly detailed plan documents but there must still be evidence of coordination between the contractor and the team in considering health and safety for all involved.

Who is responsible for the Construction Phase Plan?

The main coordinator of the Construction Phase Plan will be the contractor or the designated principal contractor, if there is more than one on-site.

However, as this is a legally required document, the responsibility for its production also falls to the client. The principal designer and designers working on the project will also be responsible for providing all the relevant information which the contractor will need to create an exhaustive CPP.

Therefore, though the principal contractor is responsible for the management of the work, there must be cooperation between the key site decision-makers for the document to be completed in full.

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What should a CPP contain?

A CPP should contain the details below, along with any other information relevant to the specific project it is being drafted for.

  1. The name of the contractor the plan is being prepared for.
  2. The client’s name and address.
  3. The principal designer’s contact information.
  4. The principal contractor’s details.
  5. Description of the project for example:
    • location of the project
    • timescales, including key dates
    • nature of the work
  6. Project team members and their details, including contact information.
  7. Details of site management arrangements, such as site meetings and safety information to keep personnel updated.
  8. Information relating to the management of work including:
    • Health & safety goals and health monitoring methods
    • Considerations for workers and the public, for example during access to and egress from the site
    • Site rules – e.g. emergency procedures and specific safety arrangements
    • Welfare facilities – personal hygiene facilities must be in place before work can start
    • Site inductions
    • Consultations and briefings with workforce and project team
    • Emergency arrangements, including first aid and fire safety procedures

When is a Construction Phase Plan prepared?

Work cannot be started on a construction project until the plan is prepared so the principal contractor must have it completed before work begins. However, the document typically contains answers to problems identified in the pre-construction information plan so the contractor may need this to be completed before drawing up the CPP.

When should a Construction Phase Plan be updated?

Depending on the nature of the work, some details of the project may not be certain or finalised when work is due to begin. Because of this, the plan should be a live document to be updated as and when details that were not available at the beginning of the project are clarified and assessed.

Smaller projects will likely not need to be updated but, should the plans change, or the schedule needs to be altered, the CPP should be altered if necessary.

How a Construction Phase Plan ties into CDM Regulations

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 aims to improve the safety of those who work in construction, no matter your role.

In 2015, CDM regulations were updated and the Construction Phase Plan was made a requirement for all construction projects and not just larger-scale projects. This includes:

  • installing a kitchen or bathroom;
  • structural alterations, eg chimney breast removal;
  • roofing work, including dormer windows;
  • extension or loft conversion.

Requirements of Schedule 3 of the CDM regulations 2015:

Schedule 3 of the CDM 2015 also requires the CPP to include specific consideration for works relating to a few safety risks, including:

  • Burial under earthfall, falling from a height or engulfment in swampland, particularly where the risk is more considerable due to the nature of the work or the methods being used at the site.
  • Considerable risk from hazardous substances and chemicals.
  • Exposure to ionising radiations where the designation of controlled and supervised areas is a requirement of regulation 16 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
  • Risk from high voltage power lines.
  • Drowning risks.
  • Risks presented by working on earthworks and underground tunnels.
  • Risks to divers with air supply systems.
  • Work carried out in caissons with a compressed air atmosphere.
  • The use of explosives.
  • Work such as lifting operations related to the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components.

 

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SMAS Worksafe Construction Phase Plan Template

 

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