What goes in a construction phase plan?

Before the construction site is set up. The principal contractor must draw up the plan during the pre-construction phase and before setting up the site (regulation 12 of CDM 2015). On a single-contractor job, the contractor must draw it up as soon as practicable before setting up the site (regulation 15). The client must make sure a plan is drawn up before the construction phase begins (regulation 4).

Yes. HSE describes it as a written plan, prepared before the construction phase begins. It must set out the health and safety arrangements and site rules, and any specific measures for work involving the particular risks listed in Schedule 3 of CDM 2015 (regulation 12). HSE says it should be easy to understand and as simple as possible (L153).

Whenever the risks change significantly. There is no fixed interval: the principal contractor must review, update and revise the plan throughout the project so it stays sufficient (regulation 12(4) of CDM 2015). HSE calls it a working document, to be reviewed when the risks or the effectiveness of the controls change significantly, including after design changes (L153). Check it when a new subcontractor starts or the programme changes.

Yes. HSE's leaflet CIS80, written for builders doing small-scale work such as extensions, loft conversions and kitchen or bathroom installations, includes a blank template. CITB's CDM Wizard, a free-to-download smartphone app, also helps you put a plan together (HSE). Fill it in for the actual job: HSE says a simple plan before work starts is usually enough to show you have thought about health and safety.

Not in full. HSE's guidance says the plan should not include documents that get in the way of a clear understanding of how the construction phase will be managed, such as generic risk assessments or detailed safety method statements (L153). Keep the plan to the project's arrangements, site rules and the controls for its significant risks, and keep task RAMS as separate documents.

Yes. Where there is more than one contractor, each contractor must follow the parts of the plan that apply to their work, and any directions from the principal designer or principal contractor (regulation 15(3) of CDM 2015). The principal contractor should take account of the contractors' views when preparing and reviewing the plan (L153).

HSE suggests rules on personal protective equipment, parking, radios and mobile phones, smoking, restricted areas, hot works and emergency arrangements (L153). Add rules for the particular risks of your site. Keep the rules clear and easy to understand, bring them to the attention of everyone on site, and have translations available if some workers need them.

The pre-construction information, plus what the designers know about the risks. The client must provide pre-construction information as soon as practicable (regulation 4 of CDM 2015), and a principal designer must pass on all the relevant information they hold (regulation 12(3)). For work on a home, HSE suggests asking the client where the services and isolation points are, about access restrictions and whether any asbestos is present (CIS80).