Benefits of Using An Independent Principal Contractor

Advantages of Using an Independent PC.

Supplier Selection – You really need someone on your side from the get-go to ensure that the Act is being complied with in full and that you can demonstrably prove that the selection of contractors has been considered with H&S competency in mind. If the worst happened and someone is hurt on site, the HSE in their formal investigations will expect you to evidence this. Ideally we would be appointed early enough in the project to help you make and document these informed supplier choices.

On Your Side – As an independent PC, we are solely working for you, holding your contractors to account. Any safety related shortcuts a contractor may be tempted to take to protect or enhance their margins are ours to stop. Previous experience is vital here.

Managing your Budgets – we know the cost of compliance and “attendances”, we know what should be included as standard, and we know when and where it’s appropriate to ask for H&S related extras on the project. We can help you sort out legitimate H&S related extras from those that are not.

 

 

 

Managing your Space – the demarcation and control of access to the construction site is a fundamental part of keeping everyone safe and is specifically covered in the Act. This inevitably creates conflicts. Contractors will usually want to maximise/overstate the space they demark and exclude you, the Client from. The Client will often be motivated by minimising this area of exclusion to ensure the smallest impact on productivity. We are best placed to find an optimal solution here, understanding the contractors needs but also working for you to ensure any request are valid and that there is due consideration given to a frequently moving zone of exclusion.

Managing the Project Duration – the goal for every project is to finish safely and in as small amount of time as possible. Sequencing of works in the Construction Phase Plan is vital. You need a detailed construction minded view of the true pinch-points on the project. We have all the experience to identify:

  • Where a contractor needs to start, stop, re-start, finish.
  • Where a small amount of out of hours works can potentially unlock other time benefits.
  • Where or where not contiguous, parallel works can be undertaken in safety.