Principal Contractor Advisory Support

Need a Competent Health & Safety Advisor for Your CDM Project?

Practical CDM support for Principal Contractors — advice, documentation, and structured systems to help you run organised, compliant projects.

If you’re managing the Principal Contractor role alongside running the job, we provide the expert guidance and support that keeps your Construction Phase Plan, RAMS, and site records properly organised and ready when clients or auditors ask to see them.

Experienced construction safety advisors supporting SME Principal Contractors across the UK.

37 Critical document templates for Principal Contractors: User Manual Index

Purpose and outcome

This resource helps you set out clear, site-specific emergency arrangements for incidents other than fire (for example: first aid, utilities strike, collapse, rescue from height, and spills). It also gives you a simple one-page notice-board summary and a drill record to prove you practised the plan and improved it.

Good completion looks like: the plan matches how your site actually runs (access, contacts, kit locations, isolation points), everyone knows the basics, the quick reference sheet is up to date on the notice board, and each drill has actions that are closed out.

Who uses it (roles and responsibilities)

Role	What they do
Site Supervisor / Site Manager	Owns the plan on site, fills in site details/contacts, makes sure the quick reference is displayed, runs or delegates drills, closes out actions.
First Aider(s)	Checks first aid arrangements are realistic (location, access, handover), supports drills and improvements.
Rescue lead (work at height)	Plans and checks the rescue method, equipment, and trained persons for the actual work at height being done; supports safe drills and improvements.
Spill response lead	Confirms spill kit location, drain protection plan, waste route, and escalation triggers (especially if it could reach drains/water).
Utilities / services lead	Confirms drawings location, permit/dig process links, known isolation points (only where safe/authorised), emergency numbers.
All workers and subcontractors	Know the quick reference, follow the simple steps, take part in drills, raise issues (missing kit, blocked access, wrong contacts).
Company Director / Contracts Manager (if you have one)	Checks the plan is in place at set-up, supports resources (training/kit), reviews repeat issues across sites.
Client / Principal Contractor (if applicable)	May want to review arrangements, attend drills, or require sign-off depending on site rules.

When to use it (workflow and frequency)

At site set-up (before work ramps up): complete the plan and put the quick reference sheet on the notice board.
At induction: brief new starters using the quick reference (2–5 minutes is enough if it’s clear).
When the site changes: update it if access/routes, work areas/levels, key people, high-risk activities, or kit locations change.
Before higher-risk phases: refresh briefings before big lifts, deeper excavations, demolition/temporary works changes, MEWP-heavy periods, fuel storage changes, or new chemicals/concrete washout.
Drills: run at the frequency you set (and increase if the job is complex, busy, or changing quickly). Record every drill and close out actions.

Before you start (what you need to gather)

Site access details: full address, best gate/access point, where an ambulance should meet someone, any height/width restrictions.
Nearest hospital/A&E: name and location (and how long it takes in traffic if relevant).
Key contacts: supervisor, first aiders, rescue lead, spill lead, utilities lead, out-of-hours keyholder; plus client/PC contact if applicable.
Utilities information: service drawings location, permit-to-dig arrangements (if used), known isolation points only if confirmed, and emergency numbers.
Emergency equipment locations: first aid kits, eyewash/burns kit if needed, spill kits, rescue kit, barriers/tape/cones, torches/lighting if needed.
Rescue planning for work at height: a specific rescue plan for the actual task (MEWP, harness work, roof work, scaffold, etc.), plus suitable rescue equipment and trained people to use it.
Drainage and environmental sensitivity: where the nearest drains/watercourses are and how you will protect them in a spill.

How to complete it (step-by-step)

Step 1 — Fill in the site details (get the basics right)

Write the site address exactly as you would say it to a 999/112 operator.
Confirm the assembly point and keep it realistic (safe place, not in vehicle routes, not under lifting areas).
Set the emergency vehicle route and keep it clear (don’t let deliveries/skip swaps block it).
Record where the gate key/lock code is kept and who has it (think out-of-hours too).

Step 2 — Assign emergency roles and contacts (keep it simple and covered)

Nominate a meet-and-greet person to guide emergency services in.
Nominate who controls the area (barriers, stopping plant, keeping people back).
Make sure every key role has a back-up (holidays, deliveries, off site).
Check phone numbers are correct and work on site (signal blackspots are common).

Practical tip: if you only have a small team, one person may hold several roles—just make sure you still have a back-up and the tasks are clear.

Step 3 — Confirm emergency equipment and locations (walk the site)

Physically check each item is there, accessible, and not locked away when needed.
Put locations in plain site terms (e.g., “welfare cabin wall by the kettle”, “blue COSHH store by gate 2”).
If you need specialist kit (rescue/spill), confirm it’s fit for purpose and people know how to use it safely.

Step 4 — Set site-specific procedures for each scenario (short and usable)

Use the template steps as your base. Add only what your team needs to act fast (where to meet ambulance, where drawings are kept, what to isolate and who can isolate).
For utilities strikes: clearly state where drawings are held and the emergency numbers. Don’t write “isolate supply” unless you know the point and who is authorised.
For collapse/excavation collapse: focus on exclusion zone, calling 999/112, and not creating a second casualty.
For rescue from height: write a specific, on-site rescue plan for how you will get a person to safety quickly. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and HSE guidance, you should not rely on Fire & Rescue as your primary rescue method. Emergency services are the back-up, not the plan. Include:
- Rescue method(s) matched to the work (e.g., MEWP recovery, harness suspension rescue, scaffold/roof edge retrieval).
- Rescue equipment you will provide on site (and where it is kept), ready to use.
- Trained/briefed rescuers (names/roles) and how they will be contacted.
- How you will prevent suspension trauma while rescuing (speed of rescue, keeping casualty supported/upright where possible, immediate first aid assessment once down).
- When to call 999/112 (for example: any suspected injury, delayed rescue, or if rescue is not immediately achievable with your plan).
For spills: state where spill kits are, which drains/watercourses are at risk, and when to escalate (for example: “if it reaches a drain, stop work and call for specialist help / inform PC”).

Keep it usable: if the steps won’t work with the people, kit, and layout you actually have, change them now—don’t wait for a drill to prove it.

Step 5 — Complete and display the notice-board quick reference (the bit everyone sees)

Transfer the must-know details: address, access point, assembly point, meet ambulance point, supervisor and first aider contacts, kit locations, utility emergency numbers.
Print it and put it where people actually look: entrance/welfare/notice board.
Replace it immediately when contacts or layout change (out-of-date sheets are worse than none).

Step 6 — Set drill frequency and plan the next due dates (make it achievable)

Pick a drill frequency that fits the site size and risk. It’s better to do simple drills regularly than plan big ones that never happen.
Mix short practical drills (e.g., spill kit and drain protection) with table-top drills for higher-risk events where a full practice isn’t safe (e.g., collapse).
Put the next due dates in diaries/planners so they don’t slip.

Step 7 — Run a drill and complete the drill record (prove it and improve it)

Pick the scenario that matches current work (don’t drill “rescue from height” if nobody is working at height, unless it’s about to start).
Keep it controlled: tell people it’s a drill, set boundaries, stop if it becomes unsafe.
Time it: how quickly did someone raise the alarm, get the kit, protect drains, or meet at the access point?
Capture what went well and what didn’t while it’s fresh.
Set actions with an owner and due date (e.g., “move spill kit nearer fuel store”, “update gate code location”, “brief subcontractor team”).
Close out actions and record the closure. Then update the plan/quick reference if needed.

Review and approval (what checks and sign-off look like)

Site Supervisor/Manager: should review the plan at set-up and after any drill, incident, near miss, or major site change.
Company management (if applicable): spot-check that plans and drill records are in the site file and actions are being closed out.
Client / Principal Contractor (if required): share the quick reference and drill outcomes if they ask, or if it’s part of site rules.

Escalate if drills repeatedly find the same issue (e.g., missing kit, blocked access, no first aider on shift), or if the plan relies on something you can’t provide (specialist rescue, specialist spill response).

Recordkeeping (storage, version control, retention)

Store the live plan in the site file (paper folder in welfare plus a scanned copy in your job folder).
Keep the notice-board sheet current and replace old versions—don’t leave multiple sheets up.
File drill records and action close-outs behind the plan in date order (include photos if helpful, e.g., drain protection set up).
Retention: keep for the life of the project and long enough to satisfy your company/client requirements and any incident investigation needs. If unsure, keep with the rest of the site H&S records for the project.

How often to review or update

Minimum: at site set-up, then whenever anything important changes.
Also review after: a drill, an actual emergency/near miss, new subcontractors starting, phase changes, or changes to access/gates/welfare.
Quick check rhythm: a brief monthly check is usually enough on small sites, but increase it on fast-moving or higher-risk jobs.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Out-of-date contacts on the notice board. Fix: make one person responsible for updating it the same day changes happen.
Emergency access blocked by deliveries, skips, or parked plant. Fix: mark/brief the route and include it in daily checks.
“Rescue from height” is just a heading, not a plan. Fix: set a specific rescue method, provide the right kit on site, and brief trained rescuers before height work starts.
Utilities strike plan says “isolate” but no one knows where or is authorised. Fix: only include confirmed isolation points and state who can operate them; otherwise focus on exclusion zone and calling the utility.
Spill response ignores drains. Fix: identify nearest drains and practise deploying drain covers/booms first (source control comes second if it risks spreading).
Drills done but no actions closed out. Fix: keep actions small, assign owners, set due dates, and review at the next toolbox talk.
Drills are too complicated and get skipped. Fix: run short drills (10–15 minutes) and use table-top discussions for complex scenarios.

Worked example (realistic small-site scenario)

Scenario: Small refurbishment job. Two floors in use. Fuel stored for a generator. A subcontractor knocks over a diesel can near a yard drain.

Supervisor briefs the team at induction using the quick reference: assembly point, who calls, spill kit location, and the “protect drains first” rule.
At week 2, the team runs a 10-minute spill drill: one person stops the source (uprights the can), one deploys drain cover/boom, one gets barriers/tape.
Drill record notes: ✅ quick response and kit found fast; ⚠️ drain cover was buried at the bottom of the kit; ⚠️ yard drain location wasn’t obvious to new starters.
Actions: move drain cover to top of kit; mark the drain with paint/marker; add “yard drain by gate” to the plan; brief subcontractors at next toolbox talk.
Supervisor signs off when actions are done and files the drill record and a photo of the marked drain in the site file.

Principal Contractor Support

Running a CDM Project as Principal Contractor?

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When you take on the Principal Contractor role, the responsibility for the Construction Phase Plan, site safety records, RAMS, and CDM compliance usually lands on the desk of a busy director or site manager.

CTC South West provides practical advisory support and structured systems that help you keep your documentation organised, your responsibilities clear, and your projects ready for client checks or audits.

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Practical advice from experienced construction safety advisors — supporting SME Principal Contractors across the UK.