We were appointed as Principal Designer to refurbish a vacant commercial unit in Darlington to provide a new food retail store. The role involved assisting at the pre-construction phase to ensure all appropriate health and safety management procedures were implemented. As part of our remit, we also prepared the Health and Safety file at project completion.
We conducted an initial site visit, gathered pertinent project information, and advised on any further investigations required (e.g., asbestos surveys). This formed part of the detailed Pre-Construction Information package supplied to the Principal Contractor.
We worked with the designers to eliminate health and safety risks and introduced measures to mitigate those risks where total elimination was impossible. Our role also included reviewing the Contractor’s Construction Phase Plan and submitting our prepared F10 notice to the Health and Safety Executive. We also carried out a final site inspection at Practical Completion and prepared our client’s Health and Safety File.
We ensured that Health and Safety, and design risks were managed carefully before the works by preparing a comprehensive Pre-construction Information package. Working alongside the designers meant that we could eliminate, reduce and control all foreseeable risks. Crucially, we also made sure that HSE regulatory compliance was strictly adhered to throughout the process and completion.
The appointment of a Principal Designer is essential to make sure health and safety issues are dealt with correctly before the commencement of construction works, both to mitigate and eliminate risks during construction and to identify and manage risks the design posed by the design itself.
Challenges & Solutions
The appointment of a Principal Designer is essential to make sure health and safety issues are dealt with correctly before the commencement of construction works, both to mitigate and eliminate risks during construction and to identify and manage risks the design posed by the design itself.
