Principal Contractor
Ensuring on-site Health and safety is essential to avoid delays and keep your project on track
When the contractors go in to start the build, there must be someone who is able to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate site health and safety, which is what a principal contractor does. At Erimus Architectural Design and Build, we act as your principal contractor, working under CDM Regulations, and conduct all activities as per HSE Guidelines.
We ensure health and safety on site, making sure that all the contractors working on your build are doing so to the highest and safest possible standards.
Fully CDM and HSE compliant
Ensures the safety of all workers
Works onsite, not remotely
What is the Difference Between a Principal Contractor and Principal Designer?
A principal contractor takes control of the construction phase of a project where it involves more than one contractor. They are appointed in writing by the client just before construction is about to start.
A principal designer takes on a similar role, but they enter the process much earlier than the contractor. In general, they manage the pre-construction phase and all of the designers appointed. They work in tandem with the principal contractor to ensure all health and safety aspects are covered in their entirety.
How Our Principal Contractor’s Work
At Erimus Architectural Design and Build, we act as your principal contractor, ensuring that every construction site adheres to Health and Safety Guidelines. We take on a leading role in managing health and safety risks during the construction phase, and possess the skills, knowledge, experience to undertake this role. The roles and responsibilities we perform as principal contractor include, but not limited to:
- Taking account of all the potential health and safety risks that involves everyone affected by the work. This also includes members of the public or any factors external to the site, as well as internal, in planning and managing any necessary measures to control them.
- Communicating with the client and principal designer for the whole duration of the project. This is to ensure that all risks are effectively and efficiently managed.
- Preparing a written construction phase plan prior to the start of the construction phase, implementing the plan and performing regular reviews to make sure it is still valid
- Putting into place the ongoing arrangements for managing health and safety throughout the construction phase
- Consulting and engaging with contractors and sub-contractors in relation to their health, safety and welfare
- Ensuring suitable welfare facilities are in place at the start of the build thoroughly maintained throughout
- Ensuring all workers undergo site-specific inductions, and provide them with any further information and training they may need
- Taking steps to prevent any unauthorised access to the site that may put the health and safety of contractors at risk
Our principal contractors work in the traditional method of single appointment, working with you to ensure the health and safety of your site, or as part of our Design and Build scheme, where our in-house team will conduct this role on your behalf.
keep your project HSE Compliant
When should a principal contractor be appointed?
The principal contractor should be appointed as early as possible, but must be before the construction phase begins. This is so they can:
- Allow plenty of time to plan the work that will take place in the construction phase. They will also have the opportunity to liaise with the principal designer, and anyone else involved in the project, to identify any risks to health and safety what control measures need to be put in place
- Work alongside the client for the whole length of their appointment
- Liaise with the principal designer for the length of their appointment in order to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the pre-construction phase
What skills and knowledge does a principal contractor need?
A principal contractor is able to demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work they are being appointed for. At Erimus Architectural Design and Build, we guarantee our principal contractors are professionals who are committed to the health and safety of everyone involved with your build.
Between us, our team possess over Fifty years’ experience in the construction industry, and have been appointed as principal contractor on numerous occasions. It is this experience that gives us the confidence to take the lead health and safety role of your project effectively and efficiently.
Can One Person be Principal Contractor and Designer?
Yes they can, but only if the principal contractor has the skills, knowledge, experience and capability to carry out the role of the principal designer, and is acting as a designer on the project in some capacity. If they are the designer in overall control of the pre-construction phase of the project, it makes sense to appoint them as contractor too.
Hiring Our Principal Contractors and Designers
Our experienced team can act as both principal designer and contractor. They have the knowledge and experience to take on both roles, either in a separate contract as part of your build, or as part of our design and build scheme.
Working with our principal designers and contractors will guarantee a first-class service in relation to the health and safety of your site and, as part of the Design and Build scheme, the costs of both will be accounted for in your quote
We will ensure that everyone involved in the construction of your project will be kept to the highest possible health and safety standards, each time, very time. Contact us today and see how we can help you with your health and safety requirements.
Have a look at our other services
Architectural Design
Our architects will help with the design and planning of the project and follow the individual RIBA stages of architecture.
Construction Management
Our Construction Managers use their expertise to break down all the elements of your build, then source and award individual contractors with the specialist contractors that best suits the project. We can typically make a cost saving between 7% – 20% via this procurement route.
Design and Build
Erimus works on the principle of taking responsibility for both the design/planning and the construction elements of a project. By covering these two bases, our work is more efficient, more cohesive, and saves you money.
Quantity Surveying
Our Quantity Surveyors advise on all financial and contractual matters relating to the costs of construction projects, from procurement to final account.