Supervisory Responsibilities under CDM 2015 Flashcards

Under CDM 2015, which duty holder is a site supervisor most likely to be working for on a construction project?

Answer: The Principal Contractor

A site supervisor typically works for the Principal Contractor, who is responsible for planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety throughout the construction phase. The supervisor acts as the Principal Contractor's agent on the ground.

What is the primary health and safety responsibility of a site supervisor under CDM 2015?

Answer: Ensuring workers under their supervision follow the Construction Phase Plan and safe systems of work

A site supervisor's primary responsibility is to ensure that workers under their control follow the arrangements set out in the Construction Phase Plan and the safe systems of work established for each activity.

Under CDM 2015, what document must the Principal Contractor prepare before construction begins?

Answer: Construction Phase Plan

The Principal Contractor must prepare the Construction Phase Plan (CPP) before the construction phase begins. The CPP sets out the health and safety arrangements for managing the project, and site supervisors must implement and monitor its requirements.

What is a site supervisor's duty regarding contractors working within their area of supervision?

Answer: To ensure they work in accordance with the site rules and safe systems of work

A site supervisor must ensure all workers in their area, including subcontractors, comply with site rules, the Construction Phase Plan and applicable safe systems of work. The supervisor monitors compliance and intervenes when unsafe acts or conditions are observed.

Which action should a site supervisor take if they observe a worker carrying out an unsafe act?

Answer: Stop the work immediately, address the issue and only allow work to restart when it is safe

A supervisor must intervene immediately when an unsafe act is observed. Failing to act is itself a breach of supervisory duty. The work should be stopped, the hazard addressed, and work should only resume when the safe system has been restored.

What does the Construction Phase Plan contain that is relevant to a site supervisor's daily role?

Answer: Site rules, emergency arrangements, risk assessments, method statements and welfare facilities arrangements

The CPP contains site rules, emergency procedures, risk assessment summaries, method statements for key activities, welfare facilities details, and traffic management arrangements. Supervisors use this daily to manage their teams safely.