Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 gives principal contractors, contractors and those who control the way in which construction work is carried out various specific duties including:
Safe place of work
- Safe access and egress to places of work
- Safe places of work with adequate space for workers
- That people are prevented from gaining access to unsafe access or workplaces
Excavations are safe
- Ensure that excavations do not accidentally collapse
- Prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, a person from being buried or trapped by a fall of material
- Support, so far as is reasonably practicable, the sides, roof or adjacent area to prevent a collapse
- Provide suitable and sufficient equipment to support the excavation
- Work on supports for an excavation only under competent supervision
- Stop any person vehicle or equipment being near to an excavation where it is likely to cause collapse
- Prevent any risk so far as is reasonably practicable, of injury from underground cables or services
- Prevent persons, vehicle or plant, equipment or any accumulation of material falling into the excavation
Fire & other emergencies
- Provide unobstructed, properly signed emergency routes and exits to a place of safety
- Set up appropriate emergency procedures with designated people
- Make people on site familiar with procedures and test the procedures
- Provide suitable signs to indicate the firefighting equipment
Welfare facilities
- Provide sanitary and washing facilities with adequate supply of drinking water
- Accommodation for clothing and changing facilities
- Rest facilities
Traffic routes & Vehicles
- Organized so that vehicles and people can move safely
- Organized so there is a separation between people and vehicles, or where this is not reasonably practicable, people are protected and warning of approaching vehicles is given
- Vehicles can only be used where routes are free of obstructions, there is sufficient room or warning has been given to the driver
- Suitable signs should be erected
Training, Inspection and Reports
- Construction work where training or technical knowledge is required to protect people shall only be carried out by competent people or under competent supervision
- Where the work is part of an excavation make sure it is inspected before work and at specified intervals by a competent person
- Reports of inspections must be produced by the competent person before the end of the working period
