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800 Introduction to Construction Safety Management
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Head Contractors

The general or head contractor on site should do the following:

  • develop and carry out a site-specific health and safety plan
  • make sure any contractor engaged to carry out construction work is competent and has made suitable provisions for health and safety
  • obtain and check site-specific safety plans from subcontractors
  • make sure the co-ordination and co-operation of subcontractors regarding:
    • information and on-site activity (such as site meetings, site procedures)
    • appropriate communication arrangements between contractors on site for health and safety
    • arrangements for discussing health and safety matters with people on site (such as setting regular toolbox/tailgate meeting times)
    • incident and accident reporting
  • make sure training for health and safety is carried out
  • make arrangements to monitor health and safety performance (such as reports, audits and inspections)
  • make arrangements to pass on information from the client or designer/adviser to other contractors and employees (such as activity reports)
  • make arrangements to control visitor access, including such things as delivery of materials

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-10. Who is primarily responsible to make sure any contractor engaged to carry out construction work is competent?