What goes in a construction phase plan?

In short

Under CDM 2015 every construction project needs a construction phase plan before the construction phase begins. The principal contractor draws it up, or the contractor where there is only one. It sets out how health and safety will be managed on that project and should be proportionate: short for simple work, fuller for complex or high-risk work.

Who writes it, and when

The principal contractor, on projects with more than one contractor.
The contractor, on single-contractor projects.
It is drawn up during the pre-construction phase, before the construction phase begins.
The client must make sure a plan is in place before work starts.
It is reviewed and revised as the work progresses.

What to include

A description of the project: scope, programme and key dates, and the key people.
The management structure and who is responsible for what.
How contractors will cooperate, communicate and coordinate.
Site rules and site induction.
Welfare facilities.
Fire and emergency arrangements.
How the significant risks of this project will be controlled, such as work at height, excavations, lifting operations, asbestos, buried services and site traffic.
Health risks such as dust, noise, vibration and manual handling.

Keep it proportionate

Focus on the risks specific to this site and this work.
Leave out generic policy text that does not help the team.
Use the pre-construction information from the client and principal designer.
Make it usable on site: short, clear and briefed to the people doing the work.

Common mistakes

A template that is not really about the project.
Writing it after work has already started.
Never updating it when the programme or subcontractors change.
Filing it in the office instead of using it on site.

Sources

Sources checked 26 September 2026 against current Health and Safety Executive guidance and legislation. This guide is general information, not legal advice; your legal duties stay with your business.