1.
When compiling the Health and Safety file,
consideration should be given to including information about each of the
following where they are relevant to the health and safety of any future construction
work. The level of detail should allow the likely risks to be identified and
addressed by those carrying out the work:
·
a brief description of the work carried out;
·
any residual hazards which remain and how they
have been dealt with (e.g. surveys or other information concerning asbestos;
contaminated land; water bearing strata; buried services etc.);
·
key structural principles (e.g. bracing, sources
of substantial stored energy, including pre- or post-tensioned members) and
safe working loads for floors and roofs, particularly where these may preclude
placing scaffolding or heavy machinery there;
·
hazardous materials used (e.g. lead paint;
pesticides; special coatings which should not be burnt off etc.);
·
information regarding the removal or dismantling
of installed plant and equipment (e.g. any special arrangements for lifting,
order or other special instructions for dismantling etc.);
·
health and safety information about equipment
provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure;
·
the nature, location and markings of significant
services, including underground cables; gas supply equipment; fire-fighting
services etc.;
·
information and as-built drawings of the
structure, its plant and equipment (e.g. the means of safe access to and from
service voids, fire doors and compartmentalisation etc.).
2.
The file does not need to include things that
will be of no help when planning future construction work, for example:
·
the pre-construction information, or
construction phase health and safety plan;
·
construction phase risk assessments, written
systems of work and COSHH assessments;
·
details about the normal operation of the
completed structure;
·
construction phase accident statistics;
·
details of all the contractors and designers
involved in the project (though it may be useful to include details of the
principal contractor and planning supervisor);
·
contractual documents;
·
information about structures, or parts of
structures, that have been demolished unless there are any implications for
remaining or future structures, e.g. voids;
·
information contained in other documents, but
relevant cross-references should be included.
3.
Some of the above items may be useful to the
client for later work, or may be needed for purposes other than complying with
the CDM regulations, but CDM (2007) does not require them to be included in the
file. Including too much material may hide crucial information about risks.
The file does not need to include things that will be
of no help when planning future construction work, for example:
·
the pre-construction information, or
construction phase plan;
·
construction phase risk assessments, written
systems of work and COSHH assessments;
·
details about the normal operation of the
completed structure;
·
construction phase accident statistics;
·
details of all the Contractors and Designers
involved in the project (though it may be useful to include details of the
Principal Contractor and CDM co-ordinator);
·
contractual documents, F10 etc;
·
information about structures, or parts of
structures, that have been demolished - unless there are any implications for
remaining or future structures, for example voids;
·
information contained in other documents, but relevant
cross-references should be included.
The Client’s duty in relation to the health and safety
file - Regulation 17
·
The Client shall ensure that the CDM
co-ordinator is provided with all the health and safety information in the
Client’s possession (or which is reasonably obtainable) relating to the project
which is likely to be needed for inclusion in the health and safety file,
including information specified in regulation 4(9)(c) of the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2006(a).
·
Where a single health and safety file relates to
more than one project, site or structure, or where it includes other related
information, the Client shall ensure that the information relating to each site
or structure can be easily identified.
·
The Client shall take reasonable steps to ensure
that after the construction phase the information in the health and safety file
(1) is kept available for inspection by any person
who may need it to comply with the relevant statutory provisions;
(2) and is revised as often as may be appropriate to
incorporate any relevant new information.
·
It shall be sufficient compliance with paragraph
(3)(a) by a Client who disposes of his entire interest in the structure if he
delivers the health and safety file to the person who acquires his interest in
it and ensures that he is aware of the nature and purpose of the file.
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